CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto

Happy Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-14T10:50:00.003-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm taking today's post space to remind everyone to photograph their loved ones... and be photographed with them. Don't worry about what you or they look like... just cherish the moments you have together... and photograph them.

The photo at right is my lovely wife, Misty. I captured this moment as we walked along the beach in Cherry Grove at sunset (Summer, 2009). Misty is the best person I have ever known. She is the most giving, loving and forgiving Godly woman anyone could want to meet. She was kind enough to marry me twenty years ago (this coming June)... and stay with me through all the stupid, insensitive things I've done over two decades. She still loves me and I am madly in love with her.

Although neither of us liked this shot when it was taken, I am glad I kept it. And I'm thankful today, more than most, that I have this memory... and such a wonderful woman to share my life with.

Share yours with someone... and snap the shutter to record your memories.

Flickr's EXPLORE is a Farce

2011-02-13T23:23:00.002-05:00

I've long been a skeptic regarding Flickr's hallowed EXPLORE. Personally, I think it's a royal farce... totally randomly chosen images that many times are poorly composed, lit or otherwise photographed. Yet, so many Flickrites put value into being "Explored". Blogs rave about it. Photogs gush over "Explored" images. Yet, EXPLORE is really a total joke. Take a look at the photo above/left.

This is no reflection on Shooto, the photographer whose photo is shown. His other images are good. But, let's face it. This is a non-descript, nothing special, snapshot of a tennis shoe. It doesn't deserve to be "Explored". There is nothing special about it. The photo has 138 views, 4 comments and for some reason, 8 favorites (lemmings). But, it's not worth being "Explored". It's a snapshot... of a shoe. Shooto doesn't even title the photo anything ethereal or meaningful. It's titled "Nike Dunk Low Pro SB Supreme"... a shoe.

Shooto gets it. But someone at Flickr doesn't... and neither do the thousands of folks who think their photos are special, galactic or famous because they are "Explored".

EXPLORE is a joke Flickr is playing on its members. To be "Explored" is not to be famous or even good at photography. It's just that your number came up in some random algorithm. Wake up folks!

Twenty Things We Want to Photograph

2011-02-09T10:59:00.003-05:00

There was an interesting question on DPS forums this morning. Basically, the original poster asked us to choose twenty things we want to photograph. The implication was that was choose twenty things we have never photographed. While I could probably come up with 1,020 specific things I want to photograph, the list was limited to twenty. In no particular order, here is my personal list...

1. Sprawling landscapes in the west (New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, etc)
2. Cityscapes at night, from the air
3. Whales off Baja & California coasts
4. Black Sand Beach on Hawai'i Island
5. Mayan Ruins
6. Old barns in decay
7. The weathered faces of elderly people (B&W)
8. Non-erotic nudes in natural light (sun light thru a window or outdoors)
9. Motocross event from the track
10. The Great Barrier Reef (underwater, of course)
11. Macros, super-macros, extreme macros
12. Portraits of interesting people from anywhere
13. Lightning in the night sky
14. A water spout
15. Dragonflies, birds, insects in flight
16. Surfers on the North Shore of Oahu (Chun's Reef or Sunset Beach) from the water
17. Dolphins/sharks in the ocean
18. War, from the front lines (journalistic style)
19. NFL game, from the sidelines
20. Greece

What would be on YOUR list?

Playing with Picasa

2011-01-24T15:29:00.007-05:00

If you know me at all, you know I like most things Google. I have an Android phone, use Google Voice for my "home phone", handle email with Gmail and Google Contacts (instead of Outlook) and live by Google Calendar. I could go on & on, but I don't want to bore you to tears.

But there is one thing Google I have avoided, that is, until a week or so ago. I admit, I am way behind the curve on learning Photoshop. People who know it, love it -- at least most of them do. Yes, it's a phenomenal application. However, I personally think it's convoluted, confusing, contraption that frustrates me every time I try to use it. I tried v5.5 and CS4 -- both made me want to throw the computer against the wall.

So, I went looking for another photo editor (yeah, I know... nothing can replace what Photoshop can do). I downloaded GIMP... and deleted it almost as fast. I played with a friend's Lightroom 3, but never really understood what it was supposed to do -- catalog or edit. I tried a few others, but most were lacking features that I found useful in my outdated copy of Paint Shop Pro 6.

Then, I ran across a rave review of Picasa 3. It sounded good, but would I despise it as much as I have some of the other graphics editors? In short, NO. Picasa is not as full-featured as CS4, but it does what I need it to do -- quickly and without much heartburn. I don't unmask my masks or tone map my colors (whatever all that means), but I do adjust contrast, saturation and even crop or resize from time to time. Guess what? Picasa is great for all those things -- AND cataloging my photos.

Hats off, once again, to the people at Google for opening a new door to my world... and for making software that is easy to use and useful at the same time. While I wade through the video tutorials and mass of websites offering PhotoShop information, I'll work happily along with Picasa 3. If you have been as frustrated with PhotoShop as I have, you might want to give Picasa a try.

Every Day is the Day to Shoot Photos!

2011-01-20T19:09:00.003-05:00

Don't ever let anyone tell you there's nothing to shoot photos of. It doesn't matter where you are or what time of year it is, there are always things to capture with the little digital sensor in your camera.
Not too long ago, I was in a funk... yeah, I said a funk. I wanted to shoot pictures, but the weather was dreary. Then, it turned cold. UGH!
After trying to wait the weather out, I felt like I was loosing... so, I decided to just get out and go shoot something anyway... even if the photos turned out to be horrid. I was going to practice composition and look for ways to practice natural lighting. In the midst of a concrete & steel downtown (that is boring and not at all well-lit), I happened upon a little insect -- a cool little grasshopper.
This little fella was hanging onto the glass entrance door of an abandoned downtown store. The reflected light was perfect to capture him and a double reflection on the glass door. WOW! This shot made my day, too.

For those folks who like EXIF data...
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel XT 350D
Exposure: 1/100 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Leave a comment and let me know YOU think!

M42 Lenses? Shhhh... Don't Tell Anybody

2011-01-18T05:59:00.004-05:00

As I mentioned last week, I'm not writing as much original content as I would like for CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto. So, I decided to conjure up a post about something I just discovered... a secret in the ranks of digital photographers... the M42 lens.

And just when I googled some resources for my article, I ran across "the wheel" article on EpicEdits.com... and it didn't need to be reinvented again. So, here is another link for your review, amusement and learning enjoyment: Don’t Forget About Those Old M42 Lenses For Your Modern dSLR…

BTW, I already own two M42 lenses - and LOVE them! The first is a 50mm f/1.8 prime. The second is a fine piece of metal & glass, a 135mm f/2.8. And I don't mind tellin' ya, I paid ~$30 for the 50mm prime and ~$60 for the 135mm. Using the APS-C sensor "magnification" conversion (mm x 1.6), I have an ~80mm and an ~200mm prime lens for less than $100.00 total. That's AWESOME!

Photography Games and Challenges

2011-01-17T11:28:00.004-05:00

I admit it... I spend a lot of time on Digital Photography School forums. My favorite forum is Games & Challenges. Why? Well, G&C is the place people post photographs with common themes. In my experience, the threads in Games and Challenges has lead me to view other photographers' photos differently. I pay attention to detail, background and color more than I used. In doing so, I am learning to critique my work better.

An added benefit, the best one of all, is new friends. Although I read posts from several forums on DPS, Games & Challenges is the place I've made the most new friends. I guess the commonality of the themed threads brings people together in melting pot that bubbles up into new friendships.

If you are using any online resources for making your photography better... or just sharing your photos, leave a comment and let me know where you spend your online time in the area of photography. Hopefully, I'll see you over on DPS!

15 Must Have Photography Accessories (Plus a Few More) Under $25

2011-01-14T18:58:00.000-05:00

I just read a nifty little article on my favorite photography-related website, Digital Photography School. The title is "15 Must Have Photography Accessories Under $25". With the exception of the two items I don't already carry in my bag, I agree with all the things listed as "must haves" for any photographer -- amateur or professional. If you're shooting photos outside, you should take the time to collect these items and carry them with you.
I would also add a few more things... which are in my bag: 16) Rubber bands - you can use a rubber band to strap down a flash diffuser, snug your strap to your shoulder or even hang a backdrop (provided its lightweight, of course). 17) Ziplock bags - I always keep a gallon size and a couple quart size ziplocks in my camera bag. They are great for keep things dry and/or sand-free and provide excellent temporary cover if the weather should change, but you need to keep shooting. 18) Batteries - This one has a high DUH factor, but batteries should not be forgotten. I carry at least four AA's and two AAA's with me, at all times. That way, I can always change my flash and trigger/receiver batteries, as needed. Although your camera battery might not fit the "under $25" part of the list, it's a good idea to purchase a second battery for your camera. I keep two batteries and even a 2nd charger handy... to minimize points of failure for any shoot I conduct.

What's are the must have items - under $25 - in your bag?

Original Content? But Mom, I Keep Finding Other Stuff!

2011-01-13T20:19:00.007-05:00

Truthfully, I'm not writing as much original content as I had hoped. Part of that is my fault. Part of it is not wanting to reinvent the wheel. Basically, I read a lot of articles, blogs and other random musings on photography daily. Instead of writing new content, I end up finding excellent articles that I feel must be featured here for my readers. Like this one...

Seven Bad Habits of Digital Photographers comes from Epicedits.com. It hits the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to some of the bad habits digital photographers fall into. Sure, it's from 2007... but it's still good information for both amateur and pro photogs alike.

My personal fave... and the one I am most often guilty of, is a variation of #2 - Not Double Checking ISO Settings. Actually, with me it's not only ISO (once in awhile), but more often not checking white balance settings. See the photo, above left. Ugh! Yeah, when I shoot RAW, white balance is easily corrected. But, look at #4. Told ya so! It's better to get it right when you click the shutter - and not in post processing.

What is YOUR worst habit and what are you doing to "fix it"?

Winter Photography Tips

2011-01-11T10:37:00.006-05:00

Since it's winter time and the South has experienced a rather large amount of snow, at least for us Southerners, I thought I'd write some tips for shooting in the white stuff. Alas, someone else has already done just that. Mr. Ray Davis, over at photodoto.com, gives us five tips for shooting better snow pics. If your snow photos are dark (like the example on the right), blue or gray, you should definitely review these tips. ENJOY... and as one of the commenters said, don't forget a moisture cover for your camera (even a gallon size ziplock type bag will work).

AWESOME! - My First Studio Photo Shoot

2011-01-10T10:27:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday, I was blessed to do my first ever studio photo shoot with a model. I've done a few photo shoots with models previous to this, but never in a studio with lighting, etc. My photographer/mentor friend, Robert, allowed me access to his studio and even setup the lights for us to shoot. Here are two examples, randomly chosen, for your (hopeful) enjoyment.

BTW, this was also the model's first studio shoot. She has "modeled" for her mom and members of the local photography club before, but never in a more formal setting. I think Cheyenne did a great job.

Strobist info:
AB1600 in 3'x4' softbox, camera left @ 45 degree angle
AB1600 in octagonal softbox - main light
AB1600 in 1'x4' grid lightbox, camera right, behind the model (to light background)
Camera: Canon 60D, ISO 200, 1/125 sec, f/11

Photo Advice: Use a Tripod

2011-01-04T16:17:00.004-05:00

I do a lot of reading on the subject of photography. Over the course of the new year, I hope to share some of the best articles, tips & tricks with you. The ezine article, For Fabulous Camera Results, Use a Tripod, offers a very basic tip that is often forgotten.

If you are shooting in a situation with low light, drag out the tripod and set it up. All things considered, your images will be sharper; and brighter looking.

While I did tweak the contrast and saturation in the photo to the right, it would not have been possible just holding the camera. I used a tripod to steady the camera, along with a remote shutter release, to capture this image. Power lines a quarter mile down the road can be seen easily. In a low light situation, that can of sharpness pretty much requires a tripod.

Do you have questions on what to look for in a tripod, leave a comment and I'll do my best to assist.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T15:24:00.004-05:00

Well, it's officially MMXI... and this is my first post of the year. In the past few days, I have seriously questioned the idea to go pro or remain a hobbyist photographer. Rather than offer a long, drawn out explanation, allow me to summarize my reasoning. On the NO Side are the thoughts of deadlines, my health issues becoming an obstacle and the possibility of not being able to keep up.

On the YES Side are the thoughts of how much I love photography, my desire to please & serve others and frankly, the fact that I would like to make a little extra money. Truthfully, as long as my photography business doesn't become a money hole, I don't really care if I make a profit.

So, what's the final decision? I'm moving forward. Along with registering my domain name, and getting the business license, I'll post my progress here. More importantly, CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto will provide you, the reader, with informative links, observations and some of my best photography as we journey through this year.

I'm ready to begin the journey... Are you?

WOW, it's really been awhile?!?

2010-12-31T11:22:00.007-05:00

First, an apology -- I'm sorry to say that I have let my photoblog go so long without an update. But, it's high time I started updating this blog regularly. As of tomorrow, I am officially turning professional in the field of photography. And no self-respecting pro shutterbug would dare to not have a blog.

To that end, I'm ahead of the game. This blog has been around (in one form or another) for almost six years now. I'm behind the game in that I have not kept it fresh and lively. That all changes with the start of the new year!

Now, my promise -- I hereby promise to update CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto regularly, including links to interesting articles (like this one), photos I've taken... and maybe even guest spots with other photogs. What do ya say? Wanna join me on this adventure? Come on... let's start 2011 together!

Photo: Aaron Shust Band @ YouthFest 2010

Tobie Reprised

2009-01-02T23:18:00.006-05:00

Several months ago, I posted a portrait of NJ, my son, and our tiny little pup, Tobie. We decided to reprise the portrait again earlier today. Going from memory, we tried to recreate the same pose. Keep in mind, if you look at the original, that Tobie is a dog -- and doesn't always cooperate like NJ does. LOL!
Actually, both are well-behaved and so much fun to be around.

Winter Grasshopper

2008-12-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

Did you know that even in December, you can find wildlife abounding in rural areas? While visiting my father's farm for our family Christmas party, I took a photo walk around the property. Among the dried up grass, weeds and branches were several beautiful grasshoppers. Here is one macro shot of this colorful "Winter" insect.

Carolina LifeCare Chopper at Night

2008-12-13T23:43:00.006-05:00

Working at a hospital makes for unique oppor- tunities at certain times. One night, just before I was leaving my office, I heard the Carolina LifeCare chopper come in. Of course, it was already dark, but I waited for the paramedic and nurse to load the patient-- and ready for takeoff. I had to shoot without being sure of the settings. Ugh! So, what you see if what I got -- slightly edited for contrast, color temp and size.

Youthfest - Nate Sallie and Newsong

2008-11-29T10:08:00.004-05:00

So many photos taken lately -- and so little time to update this blog. Argh! Well, here's one from my favorite area festival -- a Christian music festival. It's called Youthfest -- and it happens in Tabor City, NC every year, during the Yam Festival. This year, we were very blessed to have Nate Sallie and Newsong. Personally, I have been blessed to work with Youthfest for the past four years. AJ, our oldest daughter, helped out this year -- and received the only real perk some of get for working with the festival. Shhh... it's a well known "secret" that some of us serve dinner (prepared by the famous Todd House) to the performers.
This year, AJ got to sit beside, chat with and enjoy dinner with none other than Nate Sallie. Now, everytime one of his songs comes on KLOVE, she smiles and says, "I ate dinner with him." LOL! Speaking of Nate Sallie, here he is singing with Newsong.

2008 Loris Bog-off Car Show

2008-11-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

Another shot from the 2008 Loris Bog-off Car Show. Today's shot: a 1940's Ford V8 Deluxe. Yes it was raining a bit, too.

Hopefully these shots will inspire you to look at automobiles in a new way - and photograph them from a different point of view.

Loris Bog-off Festival

2008-11-23T23:51:00.002-05:00

Last year, I featured the Tabor City Yam Festival. This year, I am featuring the Loris Bog-off Festival. For nearly 30 years, Loris, SC has hosted the Bog-off -- a rural Fall festival where the "bog-off" parts mean "chicken bog" for everyone. We have lived in the area for more than a decade, but have never attended the Loris Bog-off, until now. My favorite part was the car show. So, today and tomorrow will feature shots from the 2008 Loris Bog-off Car Show. Today's shot: a 1950's Chevrolet classic. Yes it was raining a bit, too.

Hopefully these shots will inspire you to look at automobiles in a new way - and photograph them from a different point of view.

Huge Catepillar!

2008-11-13T21:37:00.006-05:00

This past weekend, my son and I went fishing at a nearby pond. He was bored that we were not catching anything, so he started playing around the edge of the pond. All of sudden, he called me over to see a "huge catepillar". My first thought was, "Yeah right -- huge? Not." The catepillar was huge -- at least 3 inches long and .75 inch in circumference. Frankly, it was the largest catepillar I've ever seen. And, so colorful!

Here are two photos for you to review... and be reminded that you can find something interesting to photograph almost anywhere you go!

Click on each to see a nice large version.

Baby Tree Frog

2008-11-02T07:01:00.005-05:00

Every now and then, when I'm out on a photo walk, I come upon something really cute or interesting. My last photo walk was rather uneventful. Then, some movement caught my eye, down in the grass. And what did my wondering eyes see? This cute little baby tree frog. I took 10 or so quick macro shots - and let him go on his way. Isn't it cool that he even smiled for the camera?

There are definite advantages to living way out in the country. :-)

Bumble bee macro

2008-10-31T21:24:00.001-04:00

Here's another one of my favorite macro images -- a large bumble bee on the delicate petals of a hot pink zinnia. Gorgeous! I'm enjoying the Fall... aren't you?

Check out the large version. It has A LOT more detail!

Hornet on a Golden Zinnia - Macro

2008-10-29T23:17:00.003-04:00

I shoot flower photos as often as I have time... and sunlight. Going out and shooting pics relaxes me and helps clear my head. When a wonderful capture like this one occurs, it is such an awesome blessing. And special thanks to the kind anonymous person who told me that the flower shown here is a golden zinnia. The hornet looking insect lighted for a few seconds and then disappeared.

Praying Mantis

2008-10-04T09:10:00.003-04:00

A curious little creature found her way into our yard recently. She was a beaut... and not nearly as aggressive as I thought she would be. When I asked NJ, my son, to get me something to put her in, he brought me the blue plastic pencil box. I could not have come up with a better background for the macro shots that followed. Here is one shot of the curious praying mantis...

Click on the photo to see a larger version. ENJOY!

A Little Housekeeping...

2008-09-27T23:03:00.001-04:00

I've been rather remiss in not keeping CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto up-to-date. I really want this blog to be worth following. So... I give you my promise that I'll do my level best to keep the Blog/o/Foto updated at minimum twice per month. That's two photographs worth showing you -- the reader -- every single month. I hope to post more than two photos per month, but that's all I can truthfully commit to for now.

I hope you enjoy and learn and become inspired by something you read or see on CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto. God bless and have a great Fall!

Myrtle Beach - Black-n-white

2008-09-10T20:45:00.003-04:00

The dog days of Summer are over... and it's time to say goodbye to the beach and ocean dunes. This photo pays homage to one of my favorite places in the world -- Myrtle Beach, SC. Although Myrtle Beach is becoming more crowded and tourist-oriented, it's still a great place for family vacations or long walks along the shoreline at sunset.

"California" Kingsnake

2008-09-02T21:14:00.001-04:00

Guess what my son found in the back yard Saturday evening? Yep! A juvenile "Cali- fornia" kingsnake. We caught it and played with the little guy for awhile... and then let him go on his way. This shot was actually inspired by my son. As I was holding the snake, NJ said, "Daddy, he looks like your watch... see, black & white". I laid the kingsnake over my wrist and he curled around the wristwatch for a moment. Snap! Good shot!

While we're talking about snakes... if you don't know the temperament and species of a wild snake, DO NOT TOUCH IT. I have handled snakes and studied them for quite some time now. Therefore, I knew this little bugger would bite if he felt threatened - as well as knowing he couldn't hurt me more than the pinch of a mosquito. For the record, this kingsnake bit me three times while we were playing with him. All were slow, deliberate, moderate bites -- which meant he was checking me out, not feeling threatened or attacking.

Roadside Flowers

2008-08-23T08:52:00.001-04:00

The last of the trio from the roadside flowers is a not really a flower at all. It's a weed! No, it's not a crabgrass yellow "flower", but looks kinda like it. I like the opaque look of the petals in the morning sunlight. Have a good weekend!

"Natural" Hibiscus Leaves

2008-08-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

There's something about the leaf and flower buds of a hibiscus that intrigues me. Look closely at this photo, especially the large version, and I think you'll see why. I almost deleted this photo in the camera, thinking it was out of focus. But, when I looked at it on my computer monitor, I found that the soft edges were from the almost white shadow cast by water droplets. Not bragging, but it is a very cool effect, in my opinion.

This is a shameless plug -- when you look at my photos, keep this in mind: I don't use PhotoShop. I sometimes tweak contrast, brightness and hue or light saturation using Paint Shop Pro 6. However, most of the photos on Blog/o/Foto are as they were shot in the camera. Effects are not "man made".

Green Leaf Spider Macro

2008-08-14T19:26:00.003-04:00

The drive to work each day takes approx- imately 45 minutes. Along the way, I see many sights that are common to rural North Carolina. One thing I enjoy is that each Summer, starting in late June, a bunch of hibiscus flowers comes into bloom along a ditch bank on my route to work. Last year and this year, I stopped a few times to photograph the flowers. Recently, I decided to "focus" on macro shots of the leaves, insects and the flowers themselves.

Over the next few days, I'll post a few of the best captures from those morning stops along the road. Today, see if you can find the little green spider...

The large version of this image is well worth the download time.

Ohio Lily

2008-08-10T08:15:00.001-04:00

A few months ago, the Blog/o/Foto featured what is still my favorite photograph (of the ones I have taken). Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to photograph either the same lily or a like one -- in the same fish pond. The cool thing about this is the fish pond is in Ohio and I live in North Carolina. It was great to go back to the same spot and capture another image. Truthfully, I was hoping I could photograph the same (or another) lily -- and possibly get the same astounding result as the first image.

While not nearly as good as the initial capture, I really like this flower photo, too. Leave a comment and let me know what YOU think!

Say HI to AJ Everyone!

2008-08-02T15:03:00.003-04:00

I just noticed that I've mentioned but not featured my oldest daughter, AJ. So, today is AJ's day on the Blog/o/Foto. While this is not the most technically excellent or appealing shot, I hope it gives you an idea for a different perspective when shooting pictures.

Truthfully, here's how this shot took place... We were on a trip recently. AJ was in the front passenger seat and I was sitting in the middle row, right behind her. While playing with the settings on the little P&S Canon A530 I keep with me at all times, I decided to pick on AJ a bit. I took the camera, held it over her head and then said, "AJ, quick, look up!" When she did, I hit the shutter button. Voila!

Try something different the next time you shoot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And remember, if you're shooting digital, you can ALWAYS delete what you don't like. THANKS for the cool POV shot AJ. I love you!

Rocks?

2008-07-22T22:52:00.002-04:00

It's odd what you will see when your eyes are opened to the world around you? After watching a bird "fuss" and fidget every time anyone or anything ventured near the rocks at Lake Tabor, I started looking to see what all the fuss was actually about. Lo and behold, what did I find? Rocks! Lots of them. Hidden right out in the open, among the black, white & gray granite rocks were three... no, four beautifully round rocks. Rocks, which weren't rocks at all -- but bird eggs.

How awesome our Creator to provide cover, protection and beauty among the ordinary sights of the day.

Lucky Tobie

2008-07-07T19:07:00.000-04:00

If you look at the time in this post, you'll see I altered it -- just for fun. I don't believe in luck, but do believe in God's use of the number 7 as a sign on completeness. So, why not be completely, complete and have a Blog/o/Foto post on 07/07/08 and 7:07PM?!? LOL!

Actually, this photo was taken a little earlier this afternoon. My wife just received her lap dog, a Yorkie-Poo. She has always wanted one -- since she was a little girl. Our son requested that I take a picture of him, holding the pup (whose name is Tobie), as a "portrait". Aren't they BOTH adorable?

Shared Hobbies Are More Fun

2008-06-09T19:38:00.001-04:00

I absolutely love it when my children develop an interest in hobbies we can enjoy together. Lyssi, my youngest daughter (we have two daughters and a son), has found that she likes photography, too. So today, I salute her for being interested in truly learning how to take good pictures, make good decisions on care of her camera and for not setting the blasted thing on P&S auto and snapping away. Here's to you Lyssi! Daddy is proud of you!

Red Bonnet - Super Macro

2008-04-23T23:30:00.004-04:00

Looking at the red bonnet of yesterday's flower against the black background made me smile so much, I decided to add a super-duper, closeup, extreme macro of the same flower. FWIW, I have NO idea what the real name of the flower is. If you know, feel free to post a comment. I'll update the blog post and give you credit. THANKS!

Red Bonnet Macro

2008-04-22T14:21:00.005-04:00

As you already know, macro photo- graphy is a passion of mine -- especially macro pics of flowers (my fav photographic subject). For some reason, this floral macro garnered a lot of attention from coworkers who use some of my photos as their computer desktop background. If you like the small version, click on the image to see the full-size photo.

BTW, the Nikon E5700 tends to blow out red in bright light, so please forgive the overexposure of the reds in the image.

Miss North Carolina - Jessica Jacobs

2008-03-16T19:05:00.004-04:00

Just for S&G... I wanted you to see that our local fall festival, the Yam Festival, does include real cele- bri-tay. Haha! That's right, none other than Miss North Carolina 2007, Jessica Marie Jacobs.

Yam Fesitval... a little late

2008-03-15T13:00:00.002-04:00

Dang it! I totally forgot to post at least one picture from a local fall festival. So, please forgive me and allow me to present you with a single photo from the Tabor City, NC Yam Festival 2007 - taken in November. I chose this pic because of the bright colors and movement of the majorettes' flags.

God bless and enjoy the Ides of March!

Favorite Mustang

2008-02-15T12:52:00.003-05:00

February is much like January... only colder. So, in keeping with the "Think Spring!" motif, I am offering Blog/o/Foto viewers a shot of my youngest daughter's favorite Mustang -- from the Mustang Week 2007 photo set. She is all into yellow... and cool cars!

January is cold! Think Spring!

2008-01-28T12:44:00.000-05:00

January is cold! So, instead of pulling out bleak, poorly lit photos from the dead tundra of the South, I'm thinking "Spring!" This example is one of the favorites for my coworkers -- who have some of my "flower photos" as their computer desktop background. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Click on the image, to see the large version. Stay warm - cuddle with someone you love. OH, and think Spring!

Another Portrait

2007-12-05T18:40:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas to everyone who follows CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto. I appreciate you taking the time to visit and review my photos.

This month, the last of 2007, I am posting another portrait -- my son. The same day I took the portrait of Lyssi, he asked me to shoot a few pics of him. This is the best one (again, totally unedited except for being rotated counterclockwise). Enjoy... and may you prosper in 2008!

My Daughter: A Portrait

2007-11-08T12:33:00.002-05:00

As we were leaving my wife's workplace recently, the setting sun caught the blonde highlights of my youngest daughter's hair... and it shone so beautifully. Right then, I asked her to sit for a portrait. What you see here is totally unedited (except for being rotated counterclockwise).

The County Fair

2007-10-16T08:27:00.005-04:00

The County Fair is still a big deal in small, rural comm- unities throughout the Southeast. In our county, we celebrate the county fair during the first and second weeks of October. Just for fun, I waited until AFTER the sun set to take a few pictures this year. [The child shown is my youngest daughter.]

For the record, I struggle with shooting photos that require a flash. Somehow, the lighting is always too sharp and red eye (even though turned on in the camera) seems to occur constantly. Oh well... learning is a process.

God is good...

2007-10-05T16:21:00.005-04:00

This photo- graph begged for something inspir- ational to be included with it. The first thing that came to my mind was "God is good". Even now, recalling that moment invokes a lump in my throat... and a tear in my eye. It was fitting that the childhood prayer offered before meals became the "inspirational" text included with the photo. Enjoy!

Perfect Lily

2007-09-16T00:05:00.005-04:00

Of the thousands of photo- graphs I've taken over the decades, a few have stood out in my mind. Thankfully, some were intentionally composed, lighted and captured. Other, like the lily you see before you, were total accidents. Yeah, I composed the shot. Yes, I waited for the right time of the day (for lighting purposes), but the image that resulted is far beyond my talent level. In my opinion, this is probably the most stunning "flower photo" I have ever taken. The lumimous petals, the water's opaque blackness, the depth of field, soft focus and reflections... all turned out perfect. I thank God for giving me a little talent in shooting pictures... and I bless Him more for showing me images like this to strive for.

Mustang Week 2007

2007-08-12T12:00:00.005-04:00

Last week, you saw one of the organizer's personal pony cars from Mustang Week 2007. This week, I'm posting a closeup photo, of a Stang, from Mustang Week 2007. Man, that red paint was gorgeous! Hey, can you guess what the exact model is? I bet that will be easy for Mustang enthusiasts.

Mustang Week 2007

2007-08-01T23:51:00.001-04:00

A week or so ago, there was a rather large automobile event in Myrtle Beach, SC. It's called Mustang Week 2007. I was blessed to photograph many of the pony cars, at two different events during the week. I'd like to share a few of those images with you -- both full Stangs and more detailed shots. Mustang Week 2007 was a great event. I sincerely hope the organizers allow Myrtle Beach to host Mustang Week again in 2008... and for years to come.

BTW, the full-size image of this car is AWESOME!

July 4th Fireworks

2007-07-05T11:08:00.003-04:00

Last night, we went down to Wilmington, NC and enjoyed the Independence Day fireworks at the USS North Carolina. Our location was down on the old wharf. With all the people milling about, I had to setup my camera on a large pylon, just behind the remnants of an old building. I think it added a neat effect to the exploding fireworks. What do you think of the July 4th fireworks?

Let There Be Light...

2007-07-02T14:45:00.004-04:00

I'm not into pink, but... a lot of my floral shots, of late, have involved pink flowers. Technically speaking, this isn't one of the best. However, my eye is always drawn to the center of the flower where light seems to be emanating from below. Also... notice the little specs of pollen on the petals. WOW!

Pink Daisy

2007-06-10T11:30:00.004-04:00

As the heat of the Summer engulfs me, I find solace in the beauty and detail God has to intricately woven into flora and fauna. How awesome is our God!

Sunshine in a Flower

2007-05-15T17:51:00.002-04:00

As stated in my last post, I sincerely enjoy photo- graphing flowers. While looking for another picture to post, this one stuck out -- and the color is awesome. This photo was taken in the garden of my stepmother, who really enjoys the outdoors. Enjoy -- and don't forget to post a comment with any constructive criticism. God bless!

Sweet Smelling Photography

2007-05-05T15:46:00.002-04:00

Although I consider myself a manly-man, I have to admit that I love to photo- graph flowers. I am not otherwise a fan of flowers. I can take them or leave them -- in a vase, someone's home or even as a gift. BUT, I love to photograph the flora wherever my travels take me. Here is an example of a flower photo -- taken outside of the office where I work. I have NO idea what kind of flower this is, but it sure is intriguing.

Rare Tudor Tiger Chronograph

2007-01-06T23:24:00.002-05:00

OK, OK, you talked me into it... here's my second favorite photo of a wristwatch. This is one watch I really miss wearing. It was gorgeous -- and received many compliments. It's also pretty rare as Rolex made very few stainless steel and gold Tudor "Tiger" Prince Chronograph watches. Check out the detail and brilliance of the dial in the full-size image! [drool]
Remember, your comments are always welcome -- as long as they are constructive. Keep smiling and enjoy 2007!

Looks Like It's From a Catalog

2006-12-16T14:14:00.001-05:00

This is undoubtedly my favorite photo- graph of a wristwatch. The watch is not one from my collection, darn it! It is an 18k gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual owned by a friend in Australia. He paid the photograph a high compliment when he asked if I had copied the picture from a Christie's or Sotheby's auction catalogue. I told him I had taken the picture, to which he replied, "It looks like it came from a catalog." What an awesome watch, with a gorgeous dial. The lighting turned out just right to show off the dial, without detracting from the beauty of the timepiece in any way.
BTW, I'll post my second favorite watch photo soon. That one, a SS/18k Tudor Oysterdate Chronograph, was in my collection. It's long gone, though I wish that watch had never been sold. Bummer -- but then again, I'm blessed to have worn it and to have some awesome pictures of the watch. Tick, tock...

Back to Watch Collecting

2006-11-21T11:32:00.001-05:00

Watch collecting has not been an active part of my life for more than a year now. There's the whole PayPal rip-off thing -- and my own mistakes on eBay. But, that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy my watch collection.
Here's a two-tone Rolex Datejust with gorgeous white dial and leather strap. I just love these vintage timepieces -- and the way they photograph. Watches are not as pretty as some animals nor flowers, etc. BUT, they are technically very pleasing to the eye.

Itty, Bitty Spider...

2006-10-25T13:16:00.002-04:00

My son and I found this spider in, of all places, a wading pool full of water. She was waiting, on the underside of a large leaf, to make a meal out of the plethora of tadpoles that were frolicking about in the cool Fall water. After we accidentally disturbed her, she came around to the top of the leaf. This photo was taken with my Nikon E5700 -- on macro, about 1.5" from the spider's head. Make sure you look at the full-size image. It is fascinating!

Pink Flowers

2006-10-12T18:08:00.001-04:00

Spring is one of the worst times of the year for me. Well, that's not entirely accurate. Spring is the worst time of the year for my allergies. Personally, I love Spring and Fall more than any other time of the year. Spring is the time I am reminded of God's love and the renewal He gives through His infinite grace and mercy.
This blossoming pink flower is a good example of the new growth of Spring. The photo was taken among the azalea bushes in the "back yard" of the office where I work. BTW, it took approximately 10 minutes to take 7-8 pictures AND completely clog my nose with allergies. ARGH!

My Ball Python - Zorro

2006-09-15T14:58:00.001-04:00

Meet Zorro, my yearling ball python. Zorro is a handsome little guy with a great temp- erament. If this pic is received well, you'll likely see a few more photos of Zorro on Charlie's Blog/o/Foto. This picture was taken during the late evening, with my Nikon CP5700, using bounced flash. The ISO was a little higher than I wanted, but the picture was taken through the glass of Zorro's vivarium. Let me know what you think of this and ALL the photographs you see here on Charlie's Blog/o/Foto.

Pink Flamingo

2006-08-09T19:58:00.001-04:00

I took this photograph at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. Our family took a Fall weekend trip to the zoo in 2004. If you have never visited any zoo, you're missing out on a real treat. If you're in the Southeastern USA, and you've never visited the Riverbanks Zoo in the heart of Columbia, you're missing out on another treat. The wildlife is gorgeous. The exhibits are well-maintained. The staff is friendly and the climate is awesome. Reptiles, an aviary, big cats, it's all there. Enjoy!

One if by land, two if by sea...

2006-07-05T14:41:00.001-04:00

This photo was taken during a recent trip to New England -- with the youth from my church. The photo features a reproduction of a vintage oil lantern used in the Boston Harbor area. The flowers and architecture near the wharf and harbor are awesome! I'll post a Boston skyline photo soon. ENJOY!

Ansel Adams? I Wish!

2006-01-06T14:49:00.001-05:00

If only I was one-tenth as talented as Ansel Adams... I would be ecstatic! Alas, I'll have to settle for being a mere mortal in the world of photography. Even so, this is one of my most Ansel-esc photos. It was taken on a mountaintop, near a small family cemetary. The only edits are to downsize to 800x600, darken by -5% and add 10% contrast. Other than that, this is the way the photo originally looked -- uncropped.

Mountain Stream - Simms Fork, NC

2006-01-03T10:38:00.001-05:00

I wish you could hear the soothing sounds of this babbling brook in the mountains of western North Carolina. This photo was taken while my wife & I were on a mission trip to a little church in the Simms Fork, NC. The people were wonderful. The scenery of God's creation was awesome to behold!

Cherub statue at Brookgreen Gardens in SC

2006-01-02T12:36:00.001-05:00

This photo was taken during a family outing to Brookgreen Gardens, near Myrtle Beach, SC. The sun was just starting to set, the mosquitoes were rampant and the kids were starting to complain. Thus, the result was a quick pic of the little cherub playing his flute.

Stop and smell the flowers...

2006-01-01T13:52:00.001-05:00

Flowers lend themselves to photo- graphy in a way that very few other things do. They are pleasing the the eye and naturally arranged so as to make themselves even more beautiful than mere mortals could accomplish. Again, these were found along an unpaved mountain road near Simms Fork, NC.

Have A Holly-Jolly Christmas!

2005-12-24T16:00:00.002-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS to ALL! This photo was taken right outside the office where I work. I used a friend's Kodak EasyShare and snapped 6-7 photos. This was the best of the bunch.

Turn One...

2005-12-21T22:34:00.002-05:00

This is the view of Carolina Motor- sports Park's turns one and two... with several Porsches roaring through it. BTW, if you enjoy this type of racing (not to mention drooling over the cars), like I do, you might want to check out the Walter Mitty Challenge in Atlanta, GA. Drop an email to CMP and let them know you'd like to see the HSR Event held there annually, too.

What?!? Another Porsche

2005-12-20T07:27:00.001-05:00

You betcha! This photo shows a late 1960s Porsche 911 (or was it a 912). In any event, it was FAST! I love listening to the distinctly "winding out" of a Porsche engine. AWESOME!

"Double-Naught" Bullet

2005-12-19T16:18:00.002-05:00

Here's another fine example of German auto engi- neering. This photo was also taken at the Carolina Motorsports Park HSR event during Labor Day Weekend, 2004. Featured is an early 1970s Porsche 911 wide body. BTW, the guy at the wheel is a 16 year old whose coming up in racing circles. Keep an eye on 00!

One Of My Favorite Cars - The Porsche 911

2005-12-18T11:37:00.001-05:00

This photo was taken during a family weekend trip to Kershaw, SC. We attended Historic Sportscar Racing Association's inaugural event at the Carolina Motorsports Park. What an awesome weekend! The kids had a great time and my wife fell in love with a sport I've been interested in since my teen years -- IMSA style auto racing. Some of the marques represented at the races were Porsche, Lotus, Mazda, Panoz, Chevrolet, Ford and BMW.
The car shown in this photo is one of all-time favorites, a beautiful yellow, slant nose Porsche 911. In the coming weeks, I hope to be able to bring you several more photos of racing cars from the HSR event in Kershaw/Camden, SC.

Is It A Snowflake?

2005-12-15T10:27:00.001-05:00

This flower looked so much like a snowflake to me. It was amazing. The photo was taken along a mountain road in western North Carolina. I have always enjoyed calling North Carolina home. Can you guess why?

Daisy, Daisy, Give Me Your Answer True...

2005-12-10T15:04:00.001-05:00

I'm half crazy... oh well, I *feel* half crazy some- times. :-) This is yet another photo- graph taken while on the 2005 mission trip to the mountains of... you guessed it, North Carolina. Daisies are such beautiful flowers. I may play around with the original (much larger) image and see if I can do something fun with it. We'll see soon...

"Orange Blossom" Special

2005-12-07T22:20:00.000-05:00

OK, so this is not a true orange blossom, but it is an ORANGE blossom. Like many of the others posted on the Blog_o_Foto, this picture was taken along a rocky road in the mountains of North Carolina. Just a mile or so from where this blossom was located, I could see Tennessee. If you've never visited this area of the country, you owe it to yourself to see the sights of the Appalachian Mountains (an hour or so off the Blueridge Parkway).

Fall Deck-orations

2005-12-04T14:08:00.000-05:00

My stepmother is gifted at putting little items together and using them for "deck- orations". This photo shows her Fall, 2005 display -- situated on the back deck of my parents' home.

Shrooms, Dude!

2005-12-02T09:19:00.000-05:00

Do you know what you're looking at? Well, you can make a very good guess from the title. This is a crop of gorgeous rust colored mushrooms. They popped up in the front yard after a 3-day rain shower during the Fall of this year. This closeup view reminds me of human or aquatic mammal skin. What do you think?

The Best For Last...

2005-11-25T18:57:00.003-05:00

I saved the best for last. No, not the photo- graphic quality, but the best wrist- watch. BTW, I realize my watch photos are not perfect. However, the SS Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 116520 is one of the most sought after wristwatches in the world. It's simple styling and workhorse movement make it a highly coveted timepiece. Sadly, this piece is no longer in my personal collection. It took up too much room (monetarily speaking) to stick around. Ah, but the joy of having owned it is awesome!
Well, this concludes my watch collecting-slash-photography joined theme. I hope you have enjoyed the pics. Next month, it's back to "regular" photography...

Joining Hobbies...

2005-11-22T17:50:00.001-05:00

The Rolex Sub- mariner 5512 is a true classic. In my opinion, it embodies what a wristwatch should be -- simple, stylish, ruggid and self-winding. The Submariner is the watch of choice among professional divers. The 5512 is a certified chronometer, not to mention water resistant to more than 660ft.
You know, I really enjoy photographing wristwatches -- joining my two primary hobbies into one. Furthermore, when using macro lenses (or setting on digital), I get to see details on a watch dial that my presbiopic eyes can no longer see on their own.

Have You Ever Seen A Zephyr?

2005-11-22T11:41:00.001-05:00

This is not really a rare timepiece, but it is unusual. The Rolex SS/14k #1008 Zephyr was produced for several years. The example shown here was in great shape. The bezels on Zephyrs from the 1960s are normally quite worn. The dial was almost perfect, too. I'm very sorry that this timepiece is not still in my personal wristwatch collection. It was a deusey!

A Little Bling...

2005-11-21T23:46:00.001-05:00

This is the third most "bling" wristwatch I've ever owned. The first two were both Rolex Day-Dates (aka Rolex President). I traded a friend in Myrtle Beach for this dial. However, it took me six months to talk him into the trade. I was so very pleased with the result. The original dial was "oyster" colored. Doesn't this one look much better?

Rolex SS/18k Datejust w/ Jubilee Arabic dial and two-tone Rolex Jubliee bracelet.

Into Chrono...

2005-11-20T23:33:00.003-05:00

Although not rare, this is one of my favorite watches. It is a SS Tudor "pre- Tiger" chrono- graph 7928, with special "Prince" bracelet. I don't know if there is a photographic aspect to my wristwatch preferences, but I am drawn to black & white dials on wristwatches. This dial is reminiscent of the Tudor chrono's sister, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. WOW, what a watch!

My Other Hobby - Watches

2005-11-18T23:25:00.001-05:00

My other major hobby is wristwatch collecting. Like photo- graphy, I fell in love with watches at a very young age. The first timepiece I remember owning was an early 1970s Seiko diver's watch. Since that time, my collection has contained more than 250 gentlemen's wristwatches (though not all at one time).
From the extremely rare to the casual everyday watch, the collection has been widely varied over the past two decades. One of the rarest and neatest looking watches I've been blessed to own was this Tudor Tiger Prince Date chronograph in stainless steel and 18k yellow gold (SS/18k). What an awesome watch!

Our Tween Queen...

2005-11-16T22:50:00.001-05:00

AJ will turn 13 in a couple of months... and she's already such a mature young lady. Like our younger daughter, she is an honor student (Junior Beta Club). She's also an award winning dancer.

Our Little Princess...

2005-11-14T10:39:00.001-05:00

This is our eight year old daughter, Lyssi. She is our second child, but she's no middle child. We have never told her, nor treated her like, a "middle child". She's our little princess; a great young artist and quite a fashion designer.

My Little Guy...

2005-11-12T23:58:00.001-05:00

This picture speaks for itself. This is my little guy. He's five years old... and oh so handsome!

Lest I Forget...

2005-11-11T17:46:00.001-05:00

I just realized I haven't posted a picture of my lovely bride (14 years). Here she is, with our three children, on her birthday this year. She is a wonderful woman, a fantastic mother and one of the best teachers at the local high school. Take it from me, God blessed this woman in ways that make my life here on Earth worth living.

Charlie's Photo-History = Part V

2005-11-10T08:47:00.001-05:00

Truthfully, I all but stopped taking pics during the early-1990's -- when I serious about a real job; got married and enjoyed the birth of our first child. After our daughter was born (look at her now), my interest in photography was resurrected -- with a new digital camera (Panasonic w/ FDD). With the birth of our second child, I purchased another digital camera (so I could keep one in the car) -- a Sony Mavica w/ FDD.

Two years ago, the photobug bit me -- once again. At that time, I decided to purchase the best "prosumer" digital camera I could get for $1200 or less. The result -- a Nikon CoolPix E5700. FYI - Most of the pictures you'll see on CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto were taken with the Nikon.

As stated on the blog title, most (not all) of the photographs you'll find here are unedited. Unless otherwise stated, ALL of the pictures on CharlieJ's Blog/o/Foto are my own.

Charlie's Photo-History = Part IV

2005-11-09T13:28:00.001-05:00

The next big step in my "photography career" was the purchase of a Canon AE-1. Man, what a camera! I must have shot 1,000 rolls (or more) in that camera. It was used to shot many of the pictures in my high school newspaper. It was also used for LOTS of attempts at artistic photography.

In 1982, I moved to Hawaii and joined the sales force of the largest camera store on Oahu. While there, I turned semi-professional (meaning I sold a few dozen pictures to tourists and locals)... and upgraded to a Canon A-1 (which I still have today, 2005). Shortly thereafter, I added a Vivitar Series One 70-210mm lens and a larger strobe. The Canon A-1 was my best and last 35mm camera.

The A-1 was my camera of choice as Photo Editor of my college newspaper; semi-pro work in Hawaii and hobby photography throughout the 1980s & into the early 1990s.

Charlie's Photo-History = Part III

2005-11-08T10:02:00.002-05:00

I have been into photography since I was a child. My parents gave me my first camera when I was just 8 years old. Get this, it was a 110mm "instamatic" shaped like Mickey Mouse's head (pictured at left). The shuttercock was on Mickey's ear and the lens was the tip of his nose.
The Photobug bit me... and hard. My next camera was a Kodak 126mm Instamatic. In fact, my next couple of cameras were Instamatics. Then, when I turned 14 years old, I hit the big time. My Mom and I drove two hours to a large electronics store (we didn't have Wal-Mart in the Southeast at the time) to buy my first 35mm SLR - a Pentax K-1000 (pictured at left)

THANKS to CameraFinder for the pictures of my early cameras.

Charlie's Photo-History = Part II

2005-11-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

I am a 42 year old certified computer geek. Really, I *am* certified (MCP, A+, Compaq/HP, Lucent). Sometimes, my friends and family think I am certifiable. Enough about that...
Our family consists of my wife (a darling girl from Ohio who is a high school Spanish teacher); our three children (whom you see in the photo); a bulldog-chow mix dog (Bear); a golden retriever mix pup (SweetPea); three hermit crabs (unnamed) and one adolescent corn snake (Cally). We live in rural North Carolina and enjoy our pool, exploring "in the woods" and vacations during the Spring/ Summer months. During the Fall/ Winter months, we spend a lot of time at church (AWANA, Choir, Bible study); visting with family and (of course) participating in educational opportunities.

Charlie's Photo-History = Part I

2005-11-06T15:25:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I miss those lazy, hazy days of Summer. Since I am just starting Charlie's Blog/o/Foto, I wanted to tell you a little about me and my family. The best way to start a photoblog (or blog/o/foto) is with a picture. This is a picture of me and our three kids at home, in the pool, this past Summer.