...............The Silver Image

Long time no post.....

2011-12-19T08:45:00.003-06:00

Buskers

Inside looking out

Harrisburg ball has started again! In your face ball at it's best

\

Wooden bowls

The end of October

2011-11-01T06:46:00.000-05:00

Occupy Columbia

World's hottest pepper. These are used industrially to make military mace and paint that will deter barnacles. My neighbor grows them and always invites me to take a bite. Fat chance ;-)

Videographer

Hot Chai

Where's Toto?

Raven Wolf ---- Again!

It's MU's 100th Homecoming this week

2011-10-17T14:18:00.001-05:00

Does some sponsorship send mixed messages to students?

Golden girls

Can't even be homecoming royalty in the parade without checking facebook

Yes, Dear. I'll get milk & eggs on the way home

Wardrobe adjustment

The troops

The pipes

Tigers' eyes

Some more from the street

HERE! You carry 1/2!

Where was mom?

Busker

Yet another week in photos (random order)

2011-10-08T09:03:00.000-05:00

Maybe running from pigeons that crap on their heads

What the well-dressed Tigers fan wore in the 20's

At the 20's fashion show

Occupy Columbia

Can you hear me now?

Lonely sunflower

Biker type

Finding the lost chord

Iron man

The week in photos (no particular order)

2011-09-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

Home-grown

Hate mongers

Paparazzi

KC Slutwalk

Fountain

Trader

Old-fashioned shooter

Exciting times

Bustling times

Serenader(s)

Easy rider

Bucket

Pizza joint

Break in the sun

A good read

A life in the sun

My week in photos

2011-09-14T12:44:00.000-05:00

Middle of the pack

OMG

Mustache moth

High on the job

Frocked up

Street art

First game of the year

2011-09-04T15:32:00.001-05:00

The Tigers first game was Saturday, but not the crowds I have seen in the past. Just pre-season, though.

Who says they all look the same?

Lost focus

Raven Wolf

Smoke break

Hot dog

Game day

I wonder of it tastes like chicken? - He tried twice to eat the mantis, but was laughed off.

The Fat Man

2011-08-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

With the help of a great welder, I am building a VERY large smoker - from a 600 gal. tank. I plan to rent it for events and do custom smoking as a side-business. Check TigerBBQ.com for progress and updates.

Some weekend shots

2011-08-22T08:38:00.003-05:00

Retirement

Poke berries

Garden spider about 2.5" long - Cuter'n a bugs ear!
These portraits require chcking 4-8 catchlights ;-)

Speed graphic and portra 160cn - a different kind of street-shooter. Jinson photography.

At the Amish sale

2011-08-19T14:54:00.002-05:00

At an Amish sale. They don't like to pose for pictures, but nobody complained when we shot some. I've known many of these folks for 20 years or more.

A life in the sun

A life in the sun

A life in the sun

A life in the sun

A life in the sun

A life in the sun

GUY RULES - follow and life is good!

More great outdoorsiness

2011-08-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

Forever looking back. - This fellow pushes himself backwards with his legs - SLOWLY.

Dreads

Left hook

Preoccupied

Moth eatin'

High on the job

In control

Lil' stinky - maybe 1/2" long

The great outdoors

2011-07-14T08:13:00.001-05:00

But first, to the street!

Bianchi

Morning walk

The odd couple

Saudi women exposed

Four-eyes

Had some time to kill while getting the oil changed Tuesday and while grilling some ribs Wednesday, so I thought I'd just get some shots where I happened to be.

Manufacturing bugs

The whole shot covers less than 1/2". Each cocoon was smaller than a pinhead!

Shot with the least sharp lens I have (Nikkor 70-300 VR), but came out OK.

Leftover cicada husk in my yard, about 1" long, hand-held shot with maybe one of the sharpest lenses made (Nikkor 60mm D Micro).

9th & Broadway

2011-06-17T11:24:00.001-05:00

What people do while waiting for the light

$10 - Come shop the district
Now THAT'S how to get people to come downtown to eat & shop!
They say "shop the district," but the city's activities say "shop elsewhere."

Columbia is stepping up parking enforcement. They are ticketing until 6:30 PM and will soon double the meter rates. Call your councilman and let them know what you think (for all the good it'll do).

Forgotten man

Lab

Rocky and friend

Cute guy

Some guy

Missed a spot

Personal paparrazza

Urban nature

Some street time and a trip to St. Joe

2011-06-13T17:50:00.000-05:00

Sherry and I went to see what the flood situation on the Missouri was, and I ran onto a couple of dhots.

River tide

Wearin' o' the green

Pensive moment

Back on the street
Motioning a table

Overpass

Biker type

Roadie

Morning cuppa

Small-town fairs

2011-06-06T09:27:00.000-05:00

Centralia Missouri, despite an over-zealous police dept., has a nice fair each year call the Anchor Fest. They have a car show, bands , and some piddling rides that run for maybe a minute or so for each fare. Lotsa people shots though.

Double-take

Whirly thing

Great car show

The last great American iron

Popcorn

Hustlers - "Step right up, little lady"

Faster, daddy!

9th & Broadway - balladeer with a uke. Pretty good stuff too!

Blue heeler

Memorial day, a pow wow, a plague of locusts and some more street time

2011-06-01T10:24:00.000-05:00

Downtown Columbia
Joyriding

Spikey

Pensive nature

A couple of fans at 9th & Broadway. This is an old shot, but I love patrons of the arts.

The Pow Wow
The Pow Wow was fun. John helped set up the lighting at the portrait booth. I had to shut down early because the wind kept after my umbrella, but I got a couple of good ones.

What, me worry?

Colorful

A plague of locusts
The cicadas/locusts are out in force this year

The Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville Missouri

They have the standard military headstones here, but this memorial wall intrigues me. Most of those buried here have died since 2000. The cemetery is huge, but only one small section currently has graves in it. There's lakes, a visitor center and beautiful landscaping

Memorial Day

Scouts love a parade

A lot of people said thanks

Some street time

2011-05-23T10:56:00.000-05:00

A cute little guy near my door when I got home. Sherry held an Sb-800 with an sc-17 cord.
Strobist: Nikon D7000 @ iso-400, Nikkor 60mm micro @ f/8, Nikon sb-800 on ttl -1 left.

Flute on the street

The GREAT escape

Another Raven Wolf portrait

Brolly guy

Snoozy gal

Pail still-life

A Day at the Rodeo!

2011-05-13T16:36:00.002-05:00

Every spring, there's a high school rodeo in Ashland, Missouri. Pretty girls, fast horses and a cowboy Zamboni. What a show! Next week, some from the new nIKON d7000! W00T!

EVERYTHING here shot with the Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX lens and the Nikon D700 camera - a great combination!

Streaming the colors

Cowboy zamboni

A bad bad place to be

Horizontal one

A day in the sun

Airborne bull

Bad exit

Roper

Horsepower

And, one from the street (maybe 2)
Mothra green

Raven Wolf again!

Joe McNally, David Hobby and more shots from the street

2011-04-24T16:12:00.005-05:00

Spent Saturday morning doing a few shots for Sekkii. We worked Alley A in downtown Columbia. Great cloudy day for using flash. I decided to do a 1-lite shoo, trying to make it look like nighttime while shooting in daylight. Needed a rim-light on some for separation, but didn't have room behind Sekkii in the small alley. Shoot noir - get noir.

Strobist: Nikon D700 @ ISO 200, Sigma 70-200 2.8 EX @ F/5.6, Nikon sb-25 @ 1/2 power in shoot-through brolly with reflector (white) fill, pocket wizards.

Josh

Sekkii

A fellow walking through the ally while we were shooting, so I coopted him to join in the image.

Test shot the day before the shoot.

Went to the Joe McNally / David Hobby Flashbus tour in St. Louis with John Leach. GREAT presentation by two super shooters.

John at lunch

w00t! In the middle of the show at the last stop of Joe McNally and David Hobby's 2011 Flash Bus Tour, he snagged me as the ~~victim~~ subject for a demonstration on stage. He took off his glasses and said "Here, put these on." Joe was gracious enough to give me the image at the end of the presentation. Kinda cool to get your portrait by one of the best shooters in the past 50 years.

A sepia sunrise this week

Coupla weeks of street stuff

2011-04-11T11:04:00.000-05:00

Haven't shot much lately, but have a few from the street.

Pippa Letsky at the 9th St. Deli

Window shopping

Burning undergrowth at Rudolph Bennett

Interesting faces

The van

Horn player on Broadway

Table at the junction cafe

Season's End for the Dawgs - We'll be back!

2011-03-16T10:35:00.003-05:00

It was a hard fought game, but the Harrisburg Bulldogs were eliminated in the Regional quarterfinals by the Clopton Eagles.

Two minutes on the clock

All the players & coaches were disappointed at losing after winning a well-deserved district championship.
They should be proud - they left it all on the court every game. Congratulations!

Jazz and Blues on a warm sunny Friday afternoon

2011-03-13T11:18:00.000-05:00

The musicians were out on the first lovely day in a long time

Raven Wolf jazz

The Blues

Ice cream

Back from a winter in Mexico

End of the season for the Harrisburg boys. A great game!

2011-03-04T08:38:00.000-06:00

Apparently, Salisbury is another town where basketball is king. This one was a little rowdy, and a couple of people had to be removed from the stands.

The gym was full, and the hometeam may have been outnumbered in the stands. A close well-played game - and the lsat one this year for the Harrisburg boys.

All with Nikon D700 | Sigma 70-200 2.8 | ISO 3200 | F/3.2 | 1/1640 sec.

In yer face ball at it's best

Athleticism

Concentration

Taking a dive

No emotion here

Focus

Harrisburg girls continue in the district championship brackets

2011-03-03T08:59:00.000-06:00

A resounding win against New Franklin in the second tier of the brackets. Go Dawgs!

Airtime

Covered up!

And some street time. This is the thinking of every teenage girl's dad

JD to the rescue during a recent snow

A gift from a friend - Seein' Double

Shortcut to her heart (for guys)

2011-02-17T11:55:00.003-06:00

Years ago, I discovered the holy grail of women's desires. That long-sought-after magical thing that every woman secretly wants and that men throughout the ages have sought.

No, it's not cuddling before a roaring fire on a snowy day; it's not a diamond whatever from the jewelry store in the commercials and it's not even some romantic dinner at an expensive restaurant. Those are all marketing hype from some clueless dweebs at an advertising agency.

That one thing that will satisfy her deepest desires is none other than creamy chocolaty FUDGE.

Not just any fudge will do. This endeavor must demonstrate dedication, suffering, pain and commitment on your part, so don't try the shortcut-to-her-heart method of buying some dreck at Wal-Mart and handing it to her with a card you probably forgot to sign. Most women don't give a wet-slap what you give them, BUT YOUR GIFT MUST CAUSE YOU PAIN IN THE GIVING!

This must be fudge that you go to great lengths to create, lovingly blending each ingredient in an artisinal way that demonstrates your love. IT MUST BE MADE DURING THE SUPER BOWL or some other activity that you would rather be doing, thus demonstrating sacrifice and commitment. YOU MUST FEEL PAIN IN THE CREATION OF YOUR GIFT, or it will be meaningless and incur wrath and derision, rather than the more-desired outcome. The only alternative to making this with your own hands is to travel to the unforgiving vast wasteland on the high steppes of Tibet, climb the great un-climbable mountain and get your silk-wrapped fudge delicacy from the great Llama of Chocolate himself. Probably easier to keep reading, but if you decide on this path, please post some photos and keep copies for verification purposes.

Read the rest in private.

It takes about 15 minutes with a microwave, and you don't need to be Jacques Pepin to do it! It's way easier than changing a spark plug or calculating the right f-stop. Here's the recipe; measure accurately and you may reap the reward of eternal harmonious romantic bliss that is only hinted at by the great writers.

Tools:
* Large glass bowl
* Large spoon (preferably a wooden one)
* A small pan or glass dish about 8" x 8" and at least 1" deep. I was lucky and found a heart-shaped one
* Measuring cup
* Measuring spoons

Ingredients
* 6-pack of your favorite brew (imbibed freely, it makes the whole process easier)
* 1 lb. powdered sugar
* 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa (you can add a couple more tablespoons of this for more love)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup milk
* 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla (add another teaspoon if using imitation vanilla)
* 1 stick butter/margarine (I use the the real stuff from a cow. Eternal love does not come with fake ingredients. Let's face it, "I love you Dear, so I made this with partially-hydrogenated vegetable dreck" doesn't have the ring of sincerity)
* (Optional) 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Chop pecans, walnuts or even peanuts pretty fine)

1. Put the sugar, cocoa & salt in the bowl and stir well.
2. Stir in the vanilla and milk. Mix it well until uniform in consistency.
3. Cut butter into pats and spread around on top of the other stuff (ON TOP, do not mix in the butter!). Save one pat of butter for later.
4. Put the bowl in the microwave and cook on HIGH for 2 minutes and 15 seconds - NO MORE; NO LESS.
5. While the glop is cooking, smear the extra pat of butter all over the inside of the pan. Smear well grasshopper!

-------------------------------- FROM HERE ON, WORK FAIRLY QUICKLY!

6. When the microwave beeps, take the bowl out and start stirring rapidly until the liquid and other glop is a uniform consistency (maybe 1 minute).
7. Add nuts last (if you want them), and mix them in lightly.
8. Pour it into the center of the pan. DON'T SPREAD IT AROUND! Shake the pan side-to-side on the table until the glop is spread evenly.
9. Put it in the fridge for 2 hours (or freezer for 30 minutes). If you need to make room, pull out a couple beers to drink before she gets home.
10. Dip a regular butter knife in water and cut it into squares. Dip the knife before each cut.
11. I sprinkled the top with Reese's bits (optional)

There are two schools of thought on the final step:

a. Stack the dishes in the sink to show how much work it took to present this masterpiece, or
b. WASH THE DAMNED DISHES, OR WHAT YOU RECEIVE MAY NOT BE ETERNAL JOY!

I opt for b.

More Harrisburg basketball.

2011-02-17T11:45:00.000-06:00

Shooter to the line

Tense moment

Behind you...

Airtime

Covered up

Homecoming at Harrisburg - Go Dawgs!

2011-02-14T13:21:00.000-06:00

Imagine the boys' varsity game: 5.6 seconds on the clock and the score is tied 55-55. We have the ball at the far end of the court. The house is packed for homecoming night and quiet descends in the stands.

(We won)

The Rapture

Athleticism

Grace

Focus

Those girls are at it again!

2011-02-10T11:15:00.002-06:00

Harrisburg basketball

Essence of parenthood

Salt & Pepper(s)

2011-02-06T10:25:00.000-06:00

Our photo meetup group started having assignments for members. We get to shoot a few photos of some assigned genre/subject. This month's subject is "Salt & Pepper." All were shot on the table with flashes, softboxes and reflectors.

Red-hot lovers

The shaker was hung from threads and tapped to get a sprinkle

One grain of ice cream salt and one peppercorn done macro with 2 extension tubes. The lens was almost touching the subject

There's more'n one kind of pepper

Couldn't resist getting Harry into the act

REALLY HOT stuff!

I even got out on the street before the snow REALLY hit

The New Franklin Connection

2011-01-23T16:40:00.001-06:00

A big thanks to Greg Arendall, a photographer and vidoegrapher in the Columbia Photo Meetup Group and the models who came to this studio shoot. He kindly offered the use of his studio for the meetup and did all the organization for the shoot. It was a great space to shoot in what was, at one time, an old ice cream parlor in the sprawling metropolis of New Franklin Missouri. He arranged for some super-nice models, a cozy studio, and best of all - HEAT!

The models were all great to work with, and I managed a few shots that were sharp enough. These were all shot with: Nikon d700 @ iso 200, Sigma EX 70-200 F/2.8 @ F/5.6, nikon sb-25 @ 1/2 power main in a shoot through brollybox on a boom, nikon sb-25 fill light shot through a scrim at 1/8 power. Pocket wizards.

Winter shooting

2011-01-21T10:31:00.000-06:00

Did a short commentary on my other blog, http://headedwrong.blogspot.com and did this shot for it.

I started a series of shots for prints. I call it "Junk in the Sky"

This shot at Commerce Bank reminded me of the chimney at the Vatican when they elect a new pope. A new pope at the bank?

Best breakfast in town

Concentration

On the court; on the street

2011-01-09T09:30:00.001-06:00

Finally, some home games.

Harrisburg vs Brookfield. Couple hundred fans on the Harrisburg bleachers - about 20 on the opponents' side. Shot a short lens (24-70) from the baseline this time. Nikon D700 @ ISO 1600, Sigma EX 24-70 2.8 @ F/4. Nikon sb-25 at each corner court @ 1/4 power, pocket wizards

Somebody's got to do it

January's eagle watching time in Missouri, so Sherry and I went to see 'em. Not many eagles that day but it was a good day for a drive in the countryside.

And, some street time

More cold and doin' it on the table

2011-01-03T11:47:00.001-06:00

Cold outside, so I have been shooting at the table

It wasn't too cold to avoid the street alltogether, though....
We'd just gotten 2 pieces of candy ($4.85) at the Candy Factory. As we were walking outside, I saw their rear entrance foyer and wished I'd had a different dessert. F/10, ISO 3200

New Year's

Kid in a window

PS play

Nikon Magic!

2010-12-27T10:22:00.001-06:00

John Leach was showing me his newest aquisition, the new Nikkor 24-120 f/4 VR-II, and when he handed me his camera - I shot him (of course). You can tell by the photo that this is serious business.
This was handheld at 1/50 sec and f/9 (75mm). VR is Nikon's magic weapon!

More snow, so more inside shooting

On the table

2010-12-20T08:11:00.001-06:00

John Leach gave me a Canon-lens coffee cup, so.....

The legendary Canon "L" lens;
(Nikon shooters like it a little sweeter)

Harry & Sally get married

Jackson in detail; LOVE my Sigma EX 105mm macro!

The Letsky sessions

2010-12-20T08:06:00.000-06:00

Pippa Letsky is a local musician that jams at venues around town. Since I love folk & bluegrass, 's a natural shooting gallery.

The gals are at it again!

2010-12-11T08:59:00.001-06:00

I love to shoot basketball and other sports. In Harrisburg Missouri, school basketball is serious business, and the games are usually well-attended. The girls were State Champs last year, going about 33 games (the whole season) undefeated. Go Dawgs!

The reach

The call

Possessed

Hallelujah

Cold outside. Bored. Must...(gasp).......shoot........SOMETHING! (gasp).

2010-11-29T10:23:00.009-06:00

The long Thanksgiving weekend is overrun with shoppers and traffic, so I tried to think up something to shoot. Off to the cupboard ..........

OUT - out, damned spot!

Sherry helped me replace my glass shooting surface (about 24" X 40") with some darker smoked glass. It helps some, but I really need some black acrylic plastic for these shots. When you're shooting with strobes and precision macro lenses (Sigma 105 EX macro, in this case), every detail jumps out at you, every missed hair, cloth fiber, small imperfection and piece of dust imaginable. I try to get them all with an anti-static dust cloth before I shoot, but if I don't look with a magnifier, it all leaps out of the screen in excruciating detail later when I get the shot on the computer. Almost every piece of macaroni had some kind of imperfection on it. I used food coloring on the two colored pieces and then dried them in the oven (said drying leaving its own imperfections, sigh).

I used NIK HDR efex pro (single-image mode) to "pop" the reflected macaroni at the top of the bowl. I then layered-in that part of the image heavily, and lightly layered the HDR on the actual noodles. This shot used 2 Sunpak 611s (old hammer-handle, high-power flashes) in small softboxes to get a soft lighting effect on the noodles. They were great, cooked.

Re-process of an old shot

Short week in photos

2010-11-15T08:03:00.001-06:00

Didn't shoot much this week, but....

Forgotten man

Playing with my food

He takes a walk everyday on 9th Street

I-70 & US Hwy. 65 - No attractions (I added the "NO"; the sign was already blank)

Raven Wolf - Again!

Round stuff

2010-11-08T07:57:00.000-06:00

We were driving along Route B, when we happened upon a balloon launch. Couldn't pass it up.

I'm sure it's no surprise to anyone when I say that real wages are falling in America. More and more stores are raising prices regularly on everyday things like food, while many companies have forestalled giving their employees cost-of-living wage adjustments for a long time. The result is that many food items now cost twice what they did a couple of years ago and the purchaser is making the same wage as before.

It is still easy to buy cheap food, like cereals and other sugar-laden crap, but nutritious food, like vegetables and meat have commonly doubled in price over just 2-3 years. No wonder diabetes and other health problems are on the rise.

Since I was inside-shooting for a day............

Sherry hates it. I love it! The Venus & Mars thing, I guess.

And, some street time.

Why do I stand at 9th & Broadway to take pictures?

2010-11-02T14:05:00.001-05:00

A lady came out of her restaurant and asked me "Why do you stand outside my restaurant and take pictures?" Well:
(1) The predominant winds here are from West and South. If I stand at the SW corner, I can move one side or the other on the wall and get out of the wind (when it's cold), or get a breeze when it's hot.
(2) I get off work in the afternoon, and in the SW I have the sun at my back, lighting people on the street.
(3) There's an awning around the whole corner of the building that keeps me dry when it rains.
(4) It's the busiest corner in town for pedestrian traffic.
(5) Because that's where I've shot from since 1978.
(6) John Dillinger robbed banks because "that's where the money is." I shoot there because that's where the people are.
(7):

I love a parade

2010-10-25T06:21:00.001-05:00

I don't usually upload so many shots, but it WAS an historic day. Homecoming weekend and the Missouri Tigers beat the #1 Oklahoma Sooners that night. These shots are from the 99th Missouri homecoming parade - the FIRST university to have a homecoming celebration.

Go Tigers!!! RIP Sooners!!!

Marching Mizzou

Officer down

Students getting high on the job

Clowning around

And some time on the street

Busker

Body language

Raven Wolf

Some more street time

2010-10-06T12:07:00.001-05:00

Everyday stuff seems pretty photogenic sometimes, to me

Raven Wolf

Status check

Set in stone

BBQ & smoked meats - home and away

2010-10-04T09:14:00.000-05:00

Start with 150 lbs. of green pig-nut hickory. Add 60 lbs of meat, a case of beer and a lovely fall day. That's the start of good BBQ.

This is not yer namby-pamby-let's-get-out-the-Weber-dear BBQ. This is serious ten-hour, case-o-beer meat smoking. Me and my neighbor Jim smoked a little meat this weekend. Took a case of beer to get it done just right. Yum!

This weekend was Roots-and-Blues BBQ festival in Columbia. Pretty good BBQ (not as good as above), but a lot of interesting faces there.

Transportation, living quarters, meat smoker and beer coolers - It's a guy thing!

The 'blues' part.

And, plenty of food.

Going to work in tall buildings

2010-09-30T09:43:00.001-05:00

I love 9th & Broadway

Charity event - a 10-story building with a perfectly good elevator. At least they did it where there was nice morning light to work with. Don Shrubshell, a local news journalist took the high ground to get a great shot of the event. His story + photo are HERE.

Reunion of some sort

Some street time

2010-09-28T08:44:00.001-05:00

Everybody gets a helmet

Al Fresco dining in the district

Raven Wolf the sax man

A good read

Hard sky

Walking back

2010-09-27T08:04:00.000-05:00

The "Walk-back in time" fair is a hodge-podge of war reenactments, indian and settler camps, food hawkers and historical dress that happens each year in Mexico Missouri. This year they had a super dixieland jazz band from the area and some good food. Same people every year; same sellers, and the same reenactments, but it's a great place to take a camera.

Woodsy

Good jazz

Just in case

Back from the front?

Everyone likes fair food

Sherry's new bonnet

And other photograph-able stuff around Columbia

My D700 doesn't get the focus right every time, but Sherry insists it's selective focus. I'll leave it up to you..

A busy week

2010-09-23T11:16:00.000-05:00

Spent some time out on the street, of course.

Fella playing the guitar outside Sparky's ice cream shop. Anybody that can spend $4 on a small cup of ice cream aughta be able to drop some in his bucket.

Attention to detail

The Heritage Festival in Columbia Missouri; What would you do for a corndog?

There was folk music and a polka band that were pretty good.

Sherry's new bonnet. She got a matching apron too.

On the way to work it's great to catch a photogenic sunrise with the morning mist and all that, but hard to find a good subject. Let's face it, the sunrise by itself is pretty, but a little uninteresting IMO. When you happen on to one of these, you've got maybe 5-6 minutes when the light's just right. I was blasting along at 70 mph on US 63 looking for anything that would be good to shoot, and this tree was all I could find. The 24" X 30" print of this came out great!

On the macro table this little guy was tough because he just wouldn't hold still. At f/32 and a DOF of maybe 1/16",focus is difficult. I was putting him in the freezer for 3-4 minutes to slow him down, and then taking him out to shoot at the table. Each time I'd get maybe 30 seconds before he was off and running again. I used two big Sunpak 611s in small softboxes (full and 1/4 power) to get enough light. D700 at ISO-200 with a Sigma EX 105mm macro lens. The beetle was about 1/2" long and a lovely purple color.

The weekend in review

2010-09-14T08:52:00.001-05:00

MS cycling event, Harrisburg festival and the Booneville tractor/steam show.
Whew!

Playing on the tracks

Saddled up

They'll never believe this back on the farm

Amish family at the steam show

World's greatest grandma

And some street time

I have previewed some great screen capture software that is easy to use and allows you to capture what's on your screen in several formats. You can get it here: Screen Capture Software

A foster-mother's love; a real can of worms

2010-09-08T10:14:00.001-05:00

Sherry has catalpa trees in her yard and they get a lot of worms late in the summer. Sherry says they're great for fishing, but she got me a coffee can full for some photos, along with the leaves they eat.

~~The mom worms carry their pupae on their backs until they get to ground and bury them to arrive next year.~~ After some research, I found out that a parasitic wasp lays eggs under the worm's skin, which hatch and spin little cocoons on the outside.

I set up on my macro table with a coupla flashes in softboxes. Since I used f/22 to 39 and a low ISO (200), my big sunpak 611s were between full and 1/4 power.

Strobist: Nikon D700 (ISO 200), Sigma EX 105 macro (f/28-f/39), Sunpak 611 flash in softboxes L&R (1/4 power fill, full power main), pocket wizards and slave.

Catalpa Bob and the great Beyond

A foster-mother's love

Busy as...

Sawtooth

Okra babies

Boy flower

Missouri State Fair - and other stuff

2010-08-23T10:52:00.005-05:00

Went to the fair with Sherry and it was pretty good. I got 1 or 2 that I like.

The autograph

Leaping dogs

A long day at the fair

And, some street time...

No smoking in the great outdoors

Howard - How a school superintendent looks from a 3rd grader's perspective.

Summer roof

There goes the neighborhood.

This little guy moved in out on my deck. He's about 1" across and lives in a curled-up leaf. Sherry held a flashlight (to focus with) and an sb-800 on a TTL cord while I shot these with a Nikkor 60mm micro.

Some links of interest

2010-08-11T11:23:00.004-05:00

Talking with a fella this morning, and he asked if I had any links on my blog. Here ya go:

Joe McNally - a true photo-god:

http://www.joemcnally.com/

Strobist.com - David Hobby's source for learning lighting:

http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/
http://davidhobby.zenfolio.com/

Flickr strobist group - great discussions on all things lighting:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/

Dave Black - excellent online workshops:

http://www.daveblackphotography.com/workshop/index.htm

Brian & Mallory - wedding pros:

http://www.aviaphotography.com/

Al Jacobs - veteran event shooter, maker of the "Black Box" battery and a wonderfully witty writer. His wedding photographers guide (downloadable PDF) is a must read:

http://www.aljacobs.com/

If you can't learn from those guys, you don't need to learn anything.

Chinese lantern tree

2010-08-09T10:36:00.000-05:00

Sherry and I were sitting in the park, and we saw the chinese lantern trees were setting pods. Time for some macro.

And, did some portraits for friends of Sherry

National Biker Roundup 2010 - Bad to the bone

2010-08-09T10:25:00.005-05:00

National Biker Roundup in Columbia Missouri - Population 95,000, and 30,000 bikers from all over the US at the fairgrounds. John & I got in because we asked nice. Press were restricted by the organizers - just because.

We spent 3 days there, three HOT days shooting in the sun. There was dust everywhere, and dust mixed with sweat equals mud. And a good time was had by all.

Sherry's Favorite

Camera buffs

John Leach (above, on the right) and I set up a portrait "booth" (really a backdrop gaffer-taped to the fairgrounds building) to get some shots of the bikers. Three flashes with radios, but it was hot as hell and I had to take it down after a couple of hours.

You can try my spiel - I dare you. It went like this: "Say, man. Come on over and stand on that beer can so we can get a picture."

What's the worst that can happen?

CoolPix 5400 Converted infrared camera - COOL!

2010-07-12T12:54:00.000-05:00

Played with John Leach's CoolPix 5400 IR a little this weekend. There's something appealing about these surreal landscapes.

Highway dump site near my farm

Near my farm

Highway dump site near my farm

2010-07-07T08:39:00.001-05:00

Had an hour or so and went over to shelter gardens for a bit. No flash, no reflector and no Sherry to make 'em look good; but, got a couple anyway.

Shot some senior pictures at a farm on Saturday. Lucky to shoot with John Leach, who's a horseman.

A small 5MP Nikon SLR converted to infrared makes great foliage shots.

And, of course, there's 9th & Broadway

Barrel racing with guns

2010-06-29T13:43:00.000-05:00

Mounted shooting - They call it barrel racing with guns. Looks like fun.

A small parade beforehand

And, of course, a little time on the street ;-)

Flowers, soapboxers and whatnot...

2010-06-14T13:32:00.001-05:00

This weekend there were soapbox derby races, gay pride festival and flowers in the heat.

Busker

Some guy

Some other guy

At the soapbox derby

Smoke break

And, lots of flowers. It was really hot - soakingwet hot. Between the heat, humidity, a short rain, wind, etc., Sherry and I got a few good ones. When you're at f/16 and 1/30th sec., a little wind makes a big difference.

Hen & Chicks

Lillies

From the middle-out

And lots of roses

All with Nikon D700. The flowers with a Sigma 105 EX macro and everything else with Nikkor 70-210 f/4.

Memorial day

2010-06-01T10:06:00.001-05:00

It was a different weekend. I shot some portraits at the Pow Wow and did my annual walk through the graveyard. This year John Leach and I set up a portrait station with a couple of different backgrounds at the For the People Pow Wow, which happens each year in Columbia. John L's excellent shots can be seen at: http://www.lazyjphotography.com/Portraits/Columbia-PowWow/12565341_mEqGH#901493427_XjChL

Head dancer

Guru

John Leach as we were setting up

Great regalia

The chat

Nikon D700 with Sigma 70-200 2.8, brollybox, hair-light and radios

Men who go down to the sea in ships - Thanks Robert

Went to Sherry's for lunch

After lunch

Martha

He knew better than to get near the pool. Sherry threw him in

Thinking big - shooting small

2010-05-23T13:46:00.000-05:00

Well, my 105 Sigma macro showed up at the same time Sherry's catalpa tree blossomed. She picked me a prime bunch of catalpa flowers, which look like small orchids, and I spent the weekend shooting small stuff.

Catalpa flower and pearls

Ox-eye daisy

Dandelion

Yellow clover

D700 @ 1/250 ISO 200, Sigma 105 2.8 EX macro (with extension tube) @ f/22, Sunpak 611 in softbox @ 1:1 power (R), Sunpak 611 in softbox @ 1:4 power (L), pocketwizards.

Some more street time

2010-05-21T11:07:00.000-05:00

This guy pulls himself along 3 hrs. a day - each way - to find a dry place to sleep where the cops won't hassle him. The homeless shelters here are usually full. He collects about 70 lbs. of cans each day and gets $.50 per lb. for them.

Smoke break

A good read

All with Nikon D700 and Nikkor 70-210 f/4

Nude Latina

2010-05-17T09:42:00.007-05:00

-
This little gal was just cuter'n a bug's ear.

The setup

Above shot with Nikon D700, Sigma EX 70-200 2.8, Sunpak 611 (softbox) and Nikon SB-800 (background). Pocket Wizards.

Identity crisis

Running fanatic; it's rained most days for the last week here.

Tactically garbed dog-hunting team. More buckles and straps than an olympic alpine team to "show the blue" in Columbia Missouri, where the local SWAT team shot up some dogs and terrorized a family to make an arrest for a small amount of pot. The department is taking major heat over their suburban commando-style SWAT team raid in an over-policed small college town with isolated crime areas.

Two-wheel urban assault vehicle

And, another cute little guy

The 105's back - kind of.

2010-05-12T10:41:00.002-05:00

Happy happy! My 105 macro is back from repair!
Cry cry; still not working :-{
-
Sherry and I went to Shelter gardens to test it out and maybe get some of the flowers I've been missing. AF is still shot, MF was iffy.

The whole bunch was about an inch across

B&W or color; by any other name, a rose is still a rose.

All with Nikon D700 and broken Sigma EX 105 2.8 macro

The weekend

2010-05-10T10:43:00.003-05:00

Well, my 105 macro is on its way back from repair, but not soon enough to get the best spring flowers. I used my old Nikkor 70-210 f/4 to get some shots when Sherry and I went to Shelter gardens and downtown this past weekend.

A rose by any other name....

Spring - bustin' out all over (it's prom season)

The groom wore spurs; the best man too.

Irises

Sunrise power at 300mm - 0600 Friday and nothing to do

Photoshop - 0600 Sunday and nothing to do

Earth day

2010-05-03T08:29:00.006-05:00

~~Entrepreneur's~~ ~~Hustler's~~ ~~Grifter's~~ Earth Day. The primary activities seemed to be selling knickknacks, gewgaws, whatchamacallits, thingamajigs, or tie-dyed versions of these to people that showed up. There was also some great music there, and there's always some interesting faces at Earth Day.

But, there were some interesting faces there to enjoy the good music and on-theme displays.

The real Woodsy the owl.

Officer Enzo and his assistant Brian Frey

Enzo's a real killer when he's not sniffing out explosives.

Sherry & her mom

Lee Ruth, a local folk music legend for more than 40 years. I hadn't taken his photo for maybe 25 of those years, so.....

All shot with Nikon D700 @ ISO 400 and a Sigma EX 70-200 2.8, mostly at AP f7.1

The Ashland Jaycees Spring Rodeo

2010-05-02T07:29:00.007-05:00

Ticket? 8$
Fast horses, cowboys, pretty girls and cute kids? Priceless.
-
This is one of the high school rodeos held around Missouri throughout the summer. It's a great show, and well-worth the price if you're looking for action shots. Last year, one of the Ashland rodeos turned cold and I had a t-shirt on. This year the weather was a lot better.

The Grand Entrance. They do it at EVERY rodeo, amateur or pro.

I noticed John shot a lot from the bleachers with a long lens. I wonder whether it was for the perspective or just to keep his gear clean. I shot standing at the rail, even though some shots are even better at ground level. It was muddy as hell in the ring, and when those horses ran close to the fence, sand, mud and equine fecal matter sprayed everywhere. I might need to put my bag on the roof of the car and drive through a carwash after this one.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats

There were cowboys

Calf roping

Pole benders

Saddle bronc riding. Two riders - it was over before I could set my camera.

Barrel racing

And, bull riding - YES!

Nikon D700 and Sigma EX 70-200 2.8 (mostly AP at f/7.1)

The burgers and coffee were good too.

Cold and rainy weekends

2010-04-25T08:16:00.011-05:00

After work last week, I spent some time - where else?

Nikon D700 & old Nikkor 70-210 f/4

The new $15,000,000 (overpriced, un-needed, good-mainly-for-businesses) parking garage going up does have some interesting moments. I use my 70-210 Nikkor on the D200 and voila Its a 315mm lens!

Nikon D200 & old Nikkor 70-210 f/4

Sometimes the weather and all sorts of other stuff combine to drive what I can shoot. I went to a track meet, but it looked like rain after an hour, so I only shot a couple of events.

Nikon D700 & Sigma EX 70-200 2.8

Since my Sigma 105 macro lens is off to repair, when I got home I used the same lens as for the track meet (Sigma 70-200 2.8) to shoot some little candies and pots I have been saving for tabletop shots. From leaping runners to close-up tabletop shots -- this lens is my most versatile; it's fast and sharp like a razor at every distance. Heavy as hell too.

Nikon D700 & Sigma EX 70-200 2.8. Softboxes and Sunpak 611 flashes

Nikon D700 & Quantaray Tech-10 50mm macro. Softboxes and Sunpak 611 flashes

The final cut

2010-04-21T10:57:00.003-05:00

I had to try the new Sigma EX 12-24, but had about 3 minutes to set up and shoot. Here, it's about 18mm equiv. on a crop-frame D200 Nikon. Pretty nice ink.

Sigma EX 12-24 HSM

I love the 12-24 Sigma! The jar was about 6"away from the lens.

Sigma EX 12-24 HSM

The weekend in review

2010-04-19T08:36:00.001-05:00

Went to the zoo, but had to walk slow with a cane because of gout.

A face with character

Sigh - been there. Done that.

The reaction when you point a 70-210 at someone - naked fear

The zoo shot with D200 & Nikkor 70-210 f/4

Mike gets a tat

Nikon D200 & Nikkor 70-210 f/4

Ink

Nikon D200 & my new Sigma 12-24 EX HSM

On the street again - Gotta love 9th & Broadway

2010-04-15T09:46:00.002-05:00

Raven Wolf

This guy

Sax man

All with Nikon D200 & Nikkor 70-210 F/4

Mixed bag

2010-04-13T11:25:00.000-05:00

This past week was a mixed bag - in a lot of ways. Shot people:

Shot stuff:

Sherry and I shot flowers: We went to 2 gardens to shoot flowers this weekend. We shot, and shot and shot with the D700 and Sigma EX 105mm macro (one of my favorites). Sherry did all the lighting and reflector stuff and I focused and clicked. We used all natural light on beautiful sunny days. Couldn't have shot 1/2 of it without her help. Broke the Sigma 105 macro after the tripod fell over, but oh well. Two weeks until I can get it back is the worst part.

And, of course, more people:

Missouri election day

2010-04-07T08:43:00.002-05:00

Stopped on the way to work to take a few shots. The sun was rising directly at the East end of the main street in Columbia. Cant pass up that light.

Looks like people started election day the same as every other day: running, sweeping and working. I'll take some photos the day after elections to document everything that changed as a result of the vote. I am sure it'll be a short post. These were shot between 0700 and 0800. God help the morning person.

It's slow at 7:15

People head to work

They get high on the job

And clean up the mess of the day before

All shot with Nikon D200 and old Nikkor 70-210 F4

Still in love after 50 years, the Rices start all over again. Congratulations!

2010-04-05T10:32:00.004-05:00

We set this up and metered the shot before the ceremony so we could get everyone together and shoot quickly before the reception across town.

Nikon D700 and Sigma 24-70 2.8 EX. Nikon SB-25 flashes in brollys L&R

The Rices - then.....

.....and now.

Nikon D700 and Sigma 24-70 2.8 EX. Nikon SB-800 TTL

More macro play

2010-04-05T10:22:00.002-05:00

Playing at the table

All with Nikon D700 and Sigma 105 EX macro. Sunpak 611 strobe and softbox.

Setting up for a portrait - photography is serious business

Nikon D700 and Sigma EX 24-70 2.8. Two Nikon Sb-25 flashes in brollys L&R.

I guess it's Spring

2010-03-29T09:03:00.007-05:00

Proposition 1 would pay to install cameras for the city to spy on people downtown. The "shop the district" campaign is an initiative to increase consumerism in and further gentrify downtown Columbia. Combined with the parking fees and resulting ticketing revenues the city generates, these cameras would be just one more reason to "Shop the district." Together, these lead me to a conclusion as to why there is so much retail space up for rent in the downtown area.

People protesting against publicly-funded surveillance cameras in Columbia.

Nikon D200 & Nikkor 70-210 F4

It's hard to tell it's really Spring, with lows in the 30's and with frost on the car every morning.

Daffodils

Nikon D200 & Sigma EX 24-70 2.8

Someone told me to go fly a kite, so.........

Nikon D200 & Sigma EX 24-70 2.8

Some kind of bud

Nikon D700 & Sigma EX 105 macro

Hooked

Nikon D200 & Nikkor 70-210 F4

Out on the street, again

2010-03-24T09:52:00.002-05:00

Another beautiful day and guess what?

Sounds

Cujo and Friends

Painting

All shot with Nikon D200 and old Nikkor 70-200 F4

It's the little things - Some macro play

2010-03-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

I'm just starting to enjoy my Sigma Ex 105 2.8 macro. I have some extension tubes, but haven't used them much yet.

These shots involved a Sunpak 611 in a small 18" X 18" softbox and radio triggers (Pocket Wizards). These are a series I am doing as social commentary on my other blog;
Headedwrong.blogspot.com - There's not much there yet, but I just started it.

It's the little things.....

The Lady 'Dawgs are state champions!

2010-03-22T11:00:00.010-05:00

Both of these small-town teams have a lot to be proud of; but,

The 31-0 undefeated 'Dawgs are the
Class-2 champions. Congratulations!

The beginning of victory

Defense was key in this game

The pass

Mine

Stand your ground

All shot with Nikon D700 and Sigma EX 70-200 2.8 HSM-II

Harrisburg wins! On to the final game for state champions

2010-03-19T14:11:00.005-05:00

GO 'DAWGS!

The crowd was a sea of red shirts as the Harrisburg Bulldogs made it 30-0 for the year. Despite a punishing 3-point shooter on the other team, the 'Dawgs played a smart strategic game to win. State final Class-2 game is Saturday at 15:20 at THE University of Missouri Arena.

The school tried to get us in to this game as yearbook photographers, but the state high school sports association, with a proprietary interest in having their own photographers on the floor, didn't let just anybody in to shoot, so I was relegated to the riff-raff. Several small-town papers, most of which didn't cover the game anyway, also didn't come up with a pass for me. Both Columbia papers have covered Harrisburg ball pretty well this year, especially after the girls' team moved into the regional brackets. Apparently, the best way to get down on the floor is to carry a P&S camera. A lot of people were walking around the court with cameras that weren't pointed at the game and clicking. I'll just keep practicing, and eventually I'll get to shoot the finals one year.

SO, we shot from the seats and had a great time. When you get lemons - make lemonade.

The dance

The rebound

In yer face and over-the-top ball

From tip-off to final buzzer, it was in-your-face ball

All shot with Nikon D700 and Sigma EX 70-200 2.8 HSM-II

Most at ISO 1600 1/250th sec. and F4.0

On the street again....

2010-03-19T13:56:00.001-05:00

Forgotten man

Calculating woman

Walking around in a fog

Digging himself out of a hole

Alley in the fog

All with Nikon D200 & old 70-210 F4 Nikkor

Onward to the Show-me finals for the Lady Bulldogs

2010-03-14T14:34:00.001-05:00

I thought the 28-0 Bulldogs might have a fight with the 27-1 Hornets - the 'dawgs won by 23 points.

This gym was BIG, but the lighting was dim and the place was a zoo. Fans crowded into a hot, standing/sitting-room only facility, leaving barely enough room for photographers. The crowd sat on folding chairs and on the floor right up to the edge of the court for this great game.

On to the state finals brackets! Go 'dawgs!

The Victors

The prayer

The squeeze

No mercy

All with Nikon D700, Sigma 70-200 2.8 HSM-II and Nikon SB-25 flashes.

Beautiful weather - people hit the streets

2010-03-11T10:01:00.004-06:00

Guitar man

Asleep at the wheel

It's a dog's life

Ice cream

In Grandpa's pocket

Sigma EX 105 macro, softbox and reflector

"Shop the district" invitation

Nikon D200 and an old Nikkor 70-210 F4 unless noted

Onward for the Lady Bulldogs - Another milestone on the road to state finals

2010-03-11T09:52:00.000-06:00

The Champs

#4 Gets more air-time

Intrepid photographer waiting to get in

Cairo booster

All with Nikon D700, Nikon flashes, Sigma 70-200 2.8 HSM-II

The lady bulldogs - on to the regionals

2010-03-06T21:46:00.000-06:00

These gals went undefeated for the season, and are working up the brackets to get to the state finals. This was a great game at Moberly Comm. College, and it was close until the last 2 minutes, when the Harrisburg team finished 'em off to a cheering red crowd.

Commercially printed copies of all shots here and on my flickr page are available in 8" x 10", 16" x 20" and 24" x 30" sizes. More Harrisburg basketball shots are at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/silver_image/sets/72157622965525966/

and my contact info is at the top of this page.

The champs