Happy Valentine's Day 2011

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.

Twenty Things We Want to Photograph

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?

2008 Loris Bog-off Car Show

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

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!

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.

Ohio Lily

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!

Sweet Smelling Photography

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

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!