Some End of Year Reminders......Best of the Blog

Howdy!

My End of Year Updates will be posted this coming week.  This is just a reminder that I'll be compiling my "Best Of the Blog".  So vote for your favorites by leaving a comment on any of the 2011 postings!

Here's an offering from a new project I'm under taking:  The 50mm (or Normal Lens) Project.  I've decided to rediscover that standard lens that came with all of our old SLR film cameras.  I had started this on my other Blog (see Link above), but it's probably more appropriate here.

Minolta SRT-202
T-MAX 400
Rokker f/1.7 50mm lens

Zoomed In!

A detail from yesterday.  Fully Zoomed:

Welcome New Blogger Friends!

Greetings All,

Hope your Holidays were Bright and Cheery!  I spent my time relaxing and am now enjoying a week's paid vacation time!  Who knew any where in the Corporate world was still doing that!

Long time followers know that I always make a special post for Blogger Friends every decade.  And we recently surpassed 70, so welcome!

From Moab, UT at Negro Bill's Canyon
Camera: Minolta SRT-202
Lens: Tamron 28-200 f/2.7 zoom
Film:  Kodak T-MAX 400
Filter: Dark Orange

Merry Christmas

Cereus Part IV

 The End of Another Year!

Cereus Part III

Nothing Lasts Forever..........

Another 24 hours later and the flower has closed.........

Cereus Part II

It opened about 30 hours after the first photo.  This is about 8:00AM so it has been open overnight.

Night Blooming Cereus

For years I had a Cereus that never bloomed.  I recently had the opportunity to buy one with blossoms ready to go.  This is a true night blooming variety; the flowers start to open at about 9:00 in the evening only last 24 hours.

We'll watch the progress of the flower for the rest of this week.  Next week, End of Year Wrap up.  In case you wondered where I've been, had some ups and downs finishing my course work.  But more importantly we've been working on the darkroom.  It will make its debut in early January 2012.

Maize Maze

The Maze itself was past peak.....but the corn was still photogenic:

Photo Merge at Brainard Lake

Merged from 2 35mm frames.  Note the other photographer on the right edge of the image.

More Guanella Pass Sky

Flying Saucers........

For the coming Week, the last Fall views of Guanella Pass.  It's closed now for the season.  I hope to have some winter images from Snow Shoeing up there.......

New Banner Photos

I've changed the Banner Photos for both of my blogs.  You see a last glimpse of Fall above at Kenosha Pass from a few weeks ago.  And Below, Fall's first snow on the Peaks and fallow fields along the Front Range.

And yes it's another photo merge; two 35 mm images.  This is my view as I drive to work each day.

Belated Veteran's Day Remembrance

We seldom consider the non-human veterans that have served with our service personnel.  Recently we have begun to recognize of the contribution of our Canine serve members.

So Take a look at some of our Military Dogs, And the new book honoring their service.

And remember to hug your doggie everyday

Guanella Pass Fall #6: The Opportunists

I noticed that the Aspens had grown beneath the power lines.  Obviously taking advantage of the cleared space:

 

All snow covered now.  Guanella pass may be closed for the season soon.

Guanella Pass Fall #5:Curves Ahead

The Guanella Pass Road actually has many real hairpin turns:

Waneka Lake Fog

We Interrupt Fall.......

To bring you our First Snowfall below 7000ft for the season:

With early snow come damage to trees........this one totally collapsed.

More First Snow here.

Guanella Pass Fall #4

Aspens are usually gold.  But yesterday you might have noticed a bit of orange.  And as today's image demonstrates, there is the occasional Red Aspen.

Guanella Pass Fall #3

Guanella Pass Fall #2

Hello to a Brief Fall: Guanella Pass #1

Finally right?  My photo lab has slowed its turn around time.  probably now time for me to start developing my own E6.

Anyway, lets move on to some Fall Photos.  I remember mentioning Guanella Pass.  One of my return-to -places.  And Where we found Fall All Around us.........

Off Road

Sorry for the inconsistent posing lately.  My new job has completely absorbed me, and since it involves an extreme form of imaging you can't blame me.

We've also spent a good part of last weekend (and will go out tomorrow) off road for the end of the season.  We've had our first snow, and the closing of some of our high mountain passes.  So soon that world will be inaccessible.

Saying Farewell to Summer:

Playing with Photo Merge: Buffalo Pass

You'll remember that my new header image is a photo merge of two 6X6 negatives.  Well,  I took these photos at Buffalo Pass (Steamboat Springs) with the idea of trying that again.  Of course you get the best result sing a tripod. But why not try it anyway:

See the original uncropped Merge Below:

We've had our first major snow in the high country.  Buffalo Pass is inevitably closed now with a foot or so of snow.  So this is a goodbye to Summer & Fall!

White Sulfur Springs, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

We spent our late summer vacation in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  The name given to the area by French Trappers who heard a sound like a steamboat engine, and found that it was coming from one of the hot springs.

Actually more warm springs, at least at the main park location..........

The White Sulfur Springs is one of more than a dozen that occur around the Steamboat Springs Area.

North Park Virga

I've been on an unplanned hiatus.  I've started a new job, which for a while was all consuming.  Then an unexpected bout of a resistant bacterial infection put me in the hospital overnight.......now recovered.

I took a drive in the mountains Friday, but because I work in film you'll have to wait for those images.....So we'll start with a glimpse of my end of summer vacation.  It's already getting dark early, the geese are overhead.  Summer is gone.

In case you wee wondering:  Virga is rain that evaporates before reaching the ground.  Very common in the western U.S.

Remembering 9/11

Wolrd Trade Center, 1989.

Looking north from Battery Park

The Towers were so close together you felt like you could reach out and touch the North Tower from the South Tower observation Deck.  Do any of you Remember Philippe Petit?

I still have some "lost images" from that 1989 visit.  Hopefully I'll find them for next year.

Rear View Mirror

Special Hogs.........

Do not pet the special 'cork nosed pigs'.........

We're back.....but because I use film, you will have to wait to see some of my vacation pictures.....

Pensive Camel......

Lady Visa........

From the Renaissance Faire.....more pix here.

We've Hit the Trail

We're on the road, but I've left you a few posts to keep you busy.....

Atlantic Monthy Retrospective on WWII

The Atlantic Monthy is publishing on the web a 20 part retrospective of WWII Photo Journalism. Warning, it does contain very disturbing content, but you are given the option of not viewing the worst images.

Many photos taken with the Graflex Camera, a standard for photo joornalist s at the time.

Angry Skies

Lots of Angry Skies this Summer.......

These are Denver Drive By shots, from I-70 at about 70 mph (no I wasn't driving!)......I do like the moodiness of grainy high speed B&W film.

Angry Skies details:
Kodak TMAX-400
Minolta SRT-202
Tamron f/2.4 28-200 zoom

Guanella Pass, Hairpin

 

Last switchback to the top of Guanella Pass

Guanella Pass

Looking NW down the Pass towards Georgetown.............

Guanella Pass, Mt Bierstadt

One of the more accessible Colorado Fourteeners.........Mt Bierstadt

Above Guanella Pass.

Red Rocks Night

Last week we attended out first Red Rocks Concert.  This was the best photo from the experience:

For more (not so great) images from our Red Rocks Experience, check in here.

Out of Range........

I could see downtown Denver from Red Rocks park, but it was just out of range for the little point and shot digital camera, but I liked the effect:

Also could see the Freeway and people making their journey home......

New Banner.......Details

A view from the top of Loveland Pass will be my New Banner for the next few month:

Taken earlier this spring, it is a panorama composite of two Mamiya 6X6 images, taken with E100VS film.  And showing some of that 200% snow pack that kept people skiing through July 4th at Arapahoe Basin (right of center, far horizon around the bend).

The Worst Day of My Life, One Year Later............

The worst day of my life, one year later..........on 7/22/2010 I was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer.  I remember the oncologist asking me how far I was willing to go; how much I could endure?  I told him that I would do anything to survive! 8 months of chemotherapy; bilateral mastectomy with 8 weeks surgical recovery; 12 weeks of intensive physical therapy;  33 daily radiation treatments; soon finishing 1 year of imunotherapy on September 8th.

One year later, I only now realize everything that I've been through; but I also rejoice in the heroic efforts to give me my life back!  And whether or not you knew, blogging gave me a much needed distraction;  something to do that didn't have anything to do with being ill; a reason to go out and photograph on the weekends that I did feel better.

Me, Andy and my new hair (that came back curly for some reason).

Now I feel such an urgency to live; tremendous forward momentum; promises of a new beginning.  I can still hug my little dog and smile ;=)

Thanks to all of you!

Billion Pixel 'Camera'

For you digital enthusiasts.  A camera to salivate over:  European Space Agency to launch billion pixel camera with Gaia Telescope.  Actually a mosaic of sensors, each about the size of a credit card:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaSC/SEMQ9V6TLPG_index_0.html

Going to need a lot of storage space!

A Different Kind of Contrast

After two weeks or so of afternoon monsoon rains we head back to higher than normal summer temperatures.  A few weeks ago we reached a near record high:

But a few months ago a record low:

Now that's a definition of Contrast!

Film Test Part VII: White Balance

From the total tonal range, you tell me which is which?

#1-

#2-

Film Test Part VI: Green

E100VS: Green

Ektar: Green

We've noticed a big difference in some of the green foliage before.  This result is a bit more of a toss-up.  By the way, this is my experiment with growing potatoes.