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Saturday, April 30, 2011

2011-04-30: Another Month down.

Project 365...4 months down, 8 months to go... :-p
So I finally got out of the house today. Took my car to get a state inspection...VIP failed it due to the rear brakes...THAT THEY PUT IN 1 MONTH AGO....they weren't wearing correctly. They had egg on their faces, when I told them they did the brake job. Well, they fixed them and hopefully that will be the end of it.
Watched a great Bruins game today..They beat the Flyers 7-3 in game 1. What a game! Also got a chance to sit out on the deck and read and get some sun. YES, I SAID SUN!
Celtics have game 1 tomorrow Vs Lebron and Miami..Looking forward to that game.
And tomorrow I have to find a decent mud shot for Tueday night's club assignment. I haven't been happy with anything I have so far. Here's the best I have...


This happened while walking around the yard picking up sticks. I jumped over the creek and did not quite make it. I lost my sneaker, took my sock off, and ran to get my camera (of course).

If I don't get a better shot, this may have to do...Wish me luck
Em


Go CELTICS!

Friday, April 29, 2011

2011-04-29: TGIF

Tough week hobbling around the house, and trying to concentrate on work while my leg is hurting and I can't get around much. I know: "Wah, Wah, Wah".  But at least it's Friday and I can just concentrate on getting better, and not worry about work getting backed up. I really need something to lift my spirits though. Maybe Sue can get me out of the house tomorrow and take me for a ride. But for tonite, I think some nice cold beverages will do the trick. How was your week? Hope you have a nice weekend. And if something is bother you, maybe this shot will lift your spirit. A pic of some flowers Jordan brought for Sue for Easter:


To Brighten Your Day

Aperture: F/5.6 ; Exposure: 1/250s; ISO-100

This shot was taken in the morning with the sun just starting to come in the window.  Kinda looks like a painting, huh?

Enjoy your night folks
Em

Thursday, April 28, 2011

2011-04-28: Ah! Working upright...

The last couple of days I've been working while laying down, my leg up, and my laptop at a 90 degree angle. Feeling much better today, so was able to sit at the table, and stop working on my back (jeeze, I sound like a hooker). Anyway, feeling better, but still need to get reminded not to rush the recoup and do more damage. But gosh, it's only been a week and I am tired of this. I wonder how my wife managed to be laid up for 3 months after elbow surgery. I don't like this one bit.
But it was a nice day to work at the dining room table, and listen to the torrential rain. Very relaxing.

My Home Workstation

So, at least one more day working at home. Relax over the weekend, and then see if I can make it to the office on Monday.

G'Night
Em
p.s. Great Series between the Bruins and The Canadiens. Game 7 was fantastic...On to the next round!
Celts will meet Miami next week, and the Sox are playing pretty good after a bad start...Terrific time to be a Boston Sports fan!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

2011-04-27: It was a Very good year!

It's my birthday! And it kind of sucks because I am incapacitated, but I'll be better soon and summer is coming and life is great!  I have a wonderful family that loves me and consider myself the "luckiest man man man, in the world world world"....to quote Lou Gehrig...
It was a good year, with so much that happened, that I can't think of it all now. But I did cross something off my bucket list. I played guitar(not too shabby) and sang (poorly)with my son's band. Me, who has severe stage fright actually played in front of a crowd.



I got to see a lot of my family this year. My family means more to me than anything,



I also got to find my creative talent and started to express myself in pictures. I am loving it, and the sky is the limit!
This should be a very good year indeed. Can't wait to see how it turns out...

Talk to you tomorrow. Happy Birthday to me!
Em

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

2011-04-26: Easter Lily

Stuck home working today, and probably tomorrow too. Can't put weight on my leg so no driving. My legs has been up most of the day with ice it. Tough working all day with laptop at a 90 degree angle. I'm got to invent a mouse that won't roll off the laptop table.
But I've been looking around the room trying to find something new and interesting to shoot. I do have my camera handy with a zoom.Same ol same ol scene out the window. Kind of gloomy out. Don't have my tripod nearby so everything I was taking was kind of shaky. But, I did crank up the ISO and was able to get this picture of a beautiful easter lily across the room, that Ashley and Tom brought us for Easter.


Easter Lily

Aperture: F/7.1 ; Exposure: 1/3s; ISO-400;
Focal Length 200mm

I've got to get up now and do some laps around the kitchen island on my crutches. If you hear a big thud, it's just me..
See you tomorrow
Em

Monday, April 25, 2011

2011-04-25: The Crutch

I over-did it yesterday. Didn't think so since I really was sitting all day, but I should have been lying down more. My leg swelled up pretty good today and I'm confined to the couch with my leg up today. Shoulda listened to Sue. But I was having a good time with the kids here yesterday, watching the Celts, sitting up playing cards, etc. So I definitely won't be going to the office tomorrow. I'll work from home and hope I can move around by Wednesday. I am getting alot of reading done, though. And catching up on everything we had saved on the DVR. At the very least, I have to be better by Thursday. It's my birthday, and I'm going dancing. HAHAHAHAHAHA.. Ya, right...
In the meantime, here's my view...



I may be tired of doing nothing, but I'm so lucky I have a wonderful wife to take care of me and keep me company.

Here's hoping I'm moving more tomorrow
Em

Sunday, April 24, 2011

2011-04-24: Happy Easter to All my Peeps

Well I've risen! After being stuck in bed for two days I finally was able to get up and get out. Sue took me for a ride today. I think it did me some good. I was getting a little down after being out orf commission. I'm not used to just laying around having people do stuff for me. Don't like it at all, but not much I can do. Glad I've got my wife around taking good care of me. We've got a nice easter dinner later with two of our kids coming and we're looking forward to that.


Hope you all have a wonderful Easter and some quality time with the family.
God bless
Em

Saturday, April 23, 2011

2011-04-23: View from a Window

I'm laying here in bed with my leg up, which I have to do for 2 days. Not much going on...Just read a really good e-book from the Craft and Vision Series called the "Inspired Eye 2" by David duChemin. Short read only 34 pages. But I really got a lot out of it. I know I've been struggling with this Project 365 thing because it has become a chore. And I don't want Photography to come to that. It's not what it's all about to me. It is about finding things that inspire me that I want to share. And I have felt compelled to come up with some witty writings to accompany by pictures and that sometimes takes away from the point of it all. It becomes to burdonsome. So I may scale back on this little project. Not quite sure yet, but I think I will stop being so anal about it. If I miss a day, oh well. Maybe I'll post a weeks worth all at once. We'll see.
But anyway, here is my view from bed though the window, yesterday afternoon. Nice blue skies. (in contrast with the snow we are getting today)


My View on Things

Oh! One of the things that I got out of this book was that there is a really cool app (that is free) called EverNote. It is something you can type into, or capture parts of web pages, or whatever and get to it from anywhere. So I'm at home, and I type notes into this thing from my laptop-then I can get to it from work. Or get to it from my iPhone, and vice versa. It's just what I've been looking for. Kind of a one-stop shop for all the things I don't want to forget. Check it out.

See you tomorrow..Or will you?

Em

Friday, April 22, 2011

2011-04-22: Surgery Done

Well back from surgery. Only took about an hour. My minicus looked like crab meat. All better now. I have to stay lying down with my leg up for 3 days. So I should get my reading done. Anyway, the Doc says if I behave myself, I should be able to get out golfing in 2 to 3 weeks. Thank heavens...It's been killing me to drive by the course everyday and see people out there..Especially since I go every day in the good weather.





But here is the view I have right now. Got my command post set up. Laptop, camera bag, books, movie in the dvd player...coffee, bowl of fireballs... Good to go....Figured I'd get this posted early before the drugs wear off. Talk to you tomorrow.

Oh...GO CELTICS!

Em

Thursday, April 21, 2011

2011-04-21: Heavy Reading...

I've been struggling a lot lately coming up with ideas for photos. Well I'll be laid up for a little while after my surgery tomorrow, so I'll have plenty of time to read and plan. I've got about 10 e-books from Craft and Vision, that I haven't had a chance to look at, and I have a big stack of books in my library that I keep flipping thru. I really enjoy collecting books and I always have one or two out. So here is today's pic..Nothing fancy, but it shows my stack of photography and photoshop books.


Heavy Reading


So if all goes well, I'll get lots of new ideas this weekend. I'd better, because once my knee has healed, I''ll be spending my time golfing...And I won't be reading....Count on it!
Wish me luck!
Em

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

2011-04-20: Not far from home..

There is this busy stream on Country Club road that I often drive by. This past Sunday when I was on my way to Salt Marsh Pond, I got a chance to pull off the road and get some shots. It had been raining all night and everything was drenched. But I had my mud-kickin boots and my rain slicker on, and trudged thru the muck and was able to get this shot of the brook. The river was raging with the rains and the winter run-off. Wish I had a tube to float down the river on. (Woulda sucked though once I hit the pipe going under the road)



Aperture: F/36; Exposure: 2s; ISO-100
Shutter Priority mode

Now I can cross it off my list of local places to stop.

It is a gorgeously dreary and rainy day today. Makes me so happy!
WHY?
Well, I can't golf because of my knee and this is one more day that I am not missing being out on the course. 2 more days till surgury..
See ya tomrorow
Em

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

2011-04-19: Ice Out?

Ok, who picked April 19th in the ice-out pool? That's the news today in the Lakes Region. Ice out! Although I am surprised judging by the pond coverage this past Sunday at Salt March pond. Well that means spring is officially here. Ya-hoo! So here is proof of ice just 2 days ago:

Canoes by the Pond

Aperture: F/14 ; Exposure: 1/40s ; ISO-100

That was a nice morning walk. I've got to make it a point to get out more often.
Ok, quick post today...gotta go set up my command post for the Celtics game. GO GREEN!

G'nite
Em

Monday, April 18, 2011

2011-04-18: I've hit 10 thousand!!!

Yes! 10,000! No, that's not the number of my blog or twitter followers. Or my number of Facebook friends. Nor is it the cash in my wallet...So what is it???? It's the number of pictures I've taken on my Canon Rebel XS since I bought it last October. Yup-I turned over the dial this weekend and started over at image 1.
So here is image  #10K taken yesterday on my short little walk at Salt March Pond in Gilford.
I call it ..

"Now, why did I think it would be a good idea to store my boat right-side-up by the lake all winter?"


Aperture: F/20; Exposure: 1/15s; ISO-100

Not a particularly good shot, but it is a milestone, so that's why it is here.
I wish I had kept my original #1 shot. Would have been fun to compare. Must have been bad because I didn't keep it. And I keep EVERYTHING...It was probably a shot with my lens cap on..I still do that now..ha ha. but yes I keep most of my images. I keep them backed up on an external hard drive. I store them in folders by year, by month, and then by day or event. Such as
My Pictures:
     2011
         2011-04
             2011-04-17 Salt Marsh Pond

etc...

And I periodically back that hard drive up to another external harddrive. I really should look into also backing up to Carbonite or something. It would kill me if I lost all my work.
Coincidentally, I am now listening to Pandora radio, and a Carbonite ad started...Must be a sign...So I downloaded it and will install it later.

Ok, lunch-time is over...back to work. See you back here tomorrow
Em

Sunday, April 17, 2011

2011-04-17: What Sign?

It rained all night last night and I figured this morning was a good time to get some shots of mud (this month's club assignment). I went down the road to a fast flowing stream...Then over to Saltmarsh Pond...NO MUD! Lots of water, but no exciting mud shots...This is going to be harder than I thought. I did get some pretty good shots of the pond, so it wasn't a total loss. This one kind of cracked me up.

Sign? What Sign?

Looks like there is some strict enforcement going on here...Not!

Ok, blog posted...Now to play with my dog...she is hounding me to play fetch...See you tomorrow..
Em


Saturday, April 16, 2011

2011-04-16: Up Early

I woke up at 5 this morning. Ug. Had my iPhone on and was listening to DMB for about an hour on Pandora. Great music to start the day. After looking out the window and seeing the light starting to come up, I decided it was a good time to go outside and see if I could work on this month's club assignment...Mud! I went out back and it actually wasn't to muddy. Dang...I got a big trash bag to lay on by the culvert out back. It was cold..About 20 degrees. I was out there about 1/2 hour and didn't get many great shots for my efforts. I was trying to get down low so I could make you feel like you were down there in the scene too. And I was too low to use a tripod. It's hard to hold a camera still in long exposure when you are down so low. I really need to get a bean-bag to rest my camera on. But here's what I got:

Down in the Culvert

Aperture: F/22 ; Exposure: 8s; ISO-100
With Zoom. Focal length 22mm
Taken 4/16 6:02am

We are supposed to get about 2 inches of rain tonite, so I'll probably some better shots of mud in the coming days. Oh boy.. 
Off to Wells for the day to visit the whole fam damily... YAY! See you back here tomorrow.

Em

Friday, April 15, 2011

2011-04-15: Ice Crystals

I was driving home last night from work, and passed over Mosquito bridge and noticed lots of cool ice floes. The ice looked black against the water and I thought it was a really cool contrast. So naturally, I darted across traffic and found a place to park. The sky was blue and the ice was black. The texture made it look like it was covered in diamonds.

End of the Winter

Aperture: F/11; Exposure: 1/125s; ISO-100
Focal Point 300mm; taken at 5:28pm

Another day or so and it should all be gone. So I was glad I stopped. Now, C'MON SUMMER!

Well the weekend is here and I'm in need of a cold frosty beverage...

Till tomorrow!
Em

Thursday, April 14, 2011

2011-04-14: Hit the wall

Argh...Went to orthopedics today and got the news that I need arthroscopic surgury on my knee. I do have a torn miniscus. It's going to be awhile before I am golfing again... At least they are going to get to it soon (Friday the 22nd).  I knew in the back of my mind (and my knee) that it wasn't good, but hearing the results from the doc kinda bums me out a bit more. I feel like I hit a wall. Which leads me to this....


A Dark Place

Aperture: F/7; Exposure: 1/4 s ISO-100
(Ok, I did add a little contrast in Photoshop to get it dark)

This was taken under the Tannery Bridge the other day. And no, I'm not in a dark place, and I'm ok with getting my knee fixed. I'll be back golfing before you know it. I know this posting sounded a bit bleak, but I was just trying to find a subject and reason to post this picture of the wall. I thought it was cool....Just would not have worked if I started out my usual cheerful, bubbly self. lol

So have a wicked awesome day my friends....Now I gotta go do something while I can still walk....

G'Nite
Em

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

2011-04-13: Tannery Bridge from the inside

I've been enjoying talking to some new potential club members, and it just makes me realize how more I enjoy this hobby. All I need now is a grant so I can take pictures all day long...I was going to get up again early this morning in search of something new on the way to work. But the drizzle put the cabbosh on that. So I'll just post something from yesterday's trip to the Tannery Bridge in Gilford.




Aperture: F/4 ; Exposure: 1/8s; ISO-100, Wide Angle Lens
4/12/11 7:07am Aperture Priority.

Which do you prefer...The original or the Black and White?

One thing that I find myself doing more and more, is using Aperture Priority(AV) or Shutter priority(TV) mode more and more as opposed to going full manual mode like I used to.
For instance, for still objects, like this bridge here, I shoot in Aperture priority which allows me to control the depth of field myself, and the camera will control the exposure. For the babbling brook yesterday, I used shutter priority which allows me to choose the length of time that the shutter is open. Then I can get the smooth, silky water effect, while the camera will control the correct aperture for that shot. I've been pleased with the results, and am able to take fewer shots to get one I'm happy with.

Ok, lunch time's over...back to work....Anyone have that grant for me?

Em

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

2011-04-12: Up Early!

The rivers are flowing like crazy with the snow melting and the torrential rains yesterday..So I wanted to get up early today and go the the brook under the Tannery Bridge. Things weren't as wet as I'd hoped, and wouldn't you know the sun decided to come up early today..


Spring Runoff

Aperture: F/32; Exposure: .6s ; ISO-100;  Taken 6:57am
Shutter Priority Mode. 300mm Zoom

I decided that I need some new tools when I go out shooting...Let's see, I need some limb cutters and some rope to get to that branch that is in the way of my shot here. I think it would have been a better shot if that was missing. Ya can't have everything...But I thought the river direction going back and forth, and being framed between the rocks, worked pretty good. In any event, it was a beautiful morning to get out in the fresh air.

Have a beautiful day yourself!

Em

Monday, April 11, 2011

2011-04-11: Back to Reality?

Well the rush of the fair is over, and I can concentrate on what I've been neglecting....My family? Gotta make some phone calls...My job? Haven't been neglecting that...I'm still employed...Chores? Yeah, the snow is melting and I've got to get going on some yardwork...And my garage and workshop are a mess...My photography? Yeah, even that has been rushed lately...
But this morning I left early to go to the office....Passed over a brook with rushing water...Was going to hop out, but I was in traffic. Saw a great scene over the Mosquito Bridge...Again-traffic, and nowhere to park. Grr. But I was able to pull into a parking lot up near where those stooges were stuck on the ice last week. And got this cool foggy scene.

All's Calm

Aperture: F/8; Expoure: 1/15s; ISO-100
With Zoom Focal Length 75mm

Very relaxing drive to work, followed by a hectic day....But this was a good way to start the day..
There! Another post done, and I can concentrate on the family tonite.

Have a good one!
Em

Sunday, April 10, 2011

2011-04-10: Craft Fair Day 2. Woo hoo!

It was a successful day at the craft Fair. I worked my butt off the last month getting ready for this show. Printing, matting, researching, preparing my display, signs, business cards. I took advice of blogs that I read and went into this not expecting to make any money. My main goal was to get my name out there and get in the habit of talking to customers about my art, and getting some experience. And I did all that. Met some great people, both customers and other vendors. And I made a profit! I didn't make much, but I paid for my table and still had money left over. Great day! The best part was when my hair stylist Brooke, came running in and said "I want that picture of Perkins Cove!" The one on the back of my business care that got me seriously going on this photography hobby. I'm telling you-she was so excited and I was touched. It made my day! That was the best part of it all.

After the show, Jordan came to help Sue and I pack up. When we were done, I left before him and pulled over. He stopped and asked if everything was ok...I grinned and held up my camera. I had to get some pictures by the lake..He laughed....Dad up to his ol tricks....Here's the shot.

Peaceful Row on Opechee

 Yup, the show is over and I can get back to doing what I love to do.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Em

Saturday, April 9, 2011

2011-04-09: The Craft Fair-Day 1

Not a bad day at the art fair today. Basically because I went in with no expectations. I did sell 10 pictures however they were of the smaller variety. But I did have a lot of people come by and look and compliment me, and talk with me. Met some really nice people and enjoyed the day.
Here's my booth.


Hopefully I'll sell a bunch more tomorrow, or else I know what everyone is getting for Christmas this year. ha!
Well I'm bushed from being on my feet all day. Hitting the hay. One more day at the fair tomorrow.  G'nite!

Em

Friday, April 8, 2011

2011-04-08: MRI

Well you know my knee is torn up, and I finally had an MRI yesterday. You know me, I had to ask the tech if I could take a picture. She said, "As long as I'm not in it!". So I got this boring little shot. Nothing fancy, but it does chronicle something in my day. This was taken with my iPhone. I was worried about the magnetic fields messing the phone up, but they said I'd be ok if I didn't get any.

Tunnel of Hope

I was actually starting to feel better this week and was wondering if I needed the MRI. But today while setting up for this weekend's Art Fair, I twisted it again. Arghh! So now I have to wait until next Thrusday when the Orthopedic Doctor gives me the results and plans for the next course of action.
Well I'll be able to sit alot this weekend and hopefully stay off it.
I drove by the golf course today...And they opened. Oh gosh. that hurts..Won't be golfing for awhile.

Well maybe I'll make a ton of dough tomorrow and forget about what ails me!
Wish me luck!
Em

Thursday, April 7, 2011

2011-04-07: The winners of today's Einstein Award.....

I'm going to interrupt my "preparing for the Art show" theme this week and switch to the "This is why I carry my camera wherever I go" theme...I'm driving to work this afternoon. Beautiful sunny day..I cross over the Winnisquam bridge and see that the ice is rapidly melting. It's starting to actually look like spring may get here..And I notice that there is a boat with 3 guys already out on the little patch of water. Probably getting a shake-down cruise in a bit early, I'm thinking..Anyway, I drive along and stop at the post office. They were closed for lunch and I had to wait 10 minutes. Then I mailed some stuff for work, and continued on. I passed another stretch of water near the Lord Hampshire Inn and look out my window at the water and this is what I see.

Today's Einstein Award Winners...

I pulled over, grabbed my zoom lens and camera and shot these guys for about 10 minutes. They were stuck on the ice. They were jumping and pushing off with oars, going forward and backwards...Very funny...Bunch o' dopes. Maybe they were trying to get around the April 1st deadline for gettting bob-houses of the lake. But most likely, they were just dumb.
And that my dears, is why I bring my camera everywhere.
They were gone by the time I came by again going home from the office. So I'm guessing they were ok.
Takes all types...

Until tomorrow.
Em

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

2011-04-06: T-Shirts and T-3 days and counting

Yesterday I posted the new sign...Today it's the T-Shirts.. With 3 days to go till the show, I guess I'm getting a bit nervous...I think I have all my T's crossed and my i's dotted, but you never know. It's the fear of the unknown. "What if they don't like me or my art?" Nah - I couldn't care less about that. I'm only going for the experience, and if I do sell something, then that's just gravy. But what I'm scared about is crowds...I just looked online at some past Art and craft fair event and it looks crowded...I don't do well in crowds... But the more I think about it...I don't like crowds when I have to be somewhere, or have to get though them (like at the grocery store-ug). But for the fair, I just have to be there and have nowhere to go...Hmm. I think I talked myself out of being anxious. Whew...Allright, piece-o-cake. Let's get it going...
Anyway, here's what you came to see.



I have a flock of my minions who will be coming and going through the Fair sporting these and trying to get more of the crowds to come my way...We'll see how it goes. I'm ready for them!

Till tomorrow
Em (of "Emery Swanson Photography" Fame) ;-)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

2011-04-05: Busy Day - Sign Up

It was billing time lst night and today so I've been out straight with work. And then tonite was camera club. Great meeting by the way. We had a talk on compostion by Kevin Sperl (http://www.lakesregionspirit.com/) He is a fantastic photographer and I know I got a lot out of the discussion. I'm hoping we can have him back sometime.
But anyway, haven't had time to really concentrate on taking pictures which is a bummer. And the next few days are going to be really busy getting ready for the art show... So I guess I'll focus (pun intended) on things related to the art fair...So last weekend I worked on a frame for my sign...And here it is:



It's official...The company name in print..The trademark registration has been submitted to the state.
And the countdown to the first public display is 4 days... Exciting times.

Come back tomorrow to see what's next!
Good night!
Em

Monday, April 4, 2011

2011-04-04: I got Nuttin'

It's that busy time of the month again...Billing time. I've been scampering all day and was able to start a day early thanks to a lot of cooperation from other department. Everything was just in sync today. In any event, I have not had any time to take any decent pictures today. So I'm going to show one I've had in my archives from last week. There are these telephone poles outside my office. Can't figure out why, but there are 3 within like 20 feet of each other. Between those and the high tension wires running near them, it is just a criss cross of wires. Anyway, I was bored and took a picture and thought all the wires looked interesting. I zoomed in and got this one.

Can you hear me now?

Aperture: F/10  Exposure: l/160s; ISO-100 ; Taken with zoom

I also discovered the canvas texture in photoshop and thought it looked kinds of neat. I know-pretty boring, but as I said....I got Nuttin'. Sorry.

I'll be pulling an all-nighter, so maybe I'll have something better for tomorrow.

Over and out..
Em

Sunday, April 3, 2011

2011-04-03: Support Our Troops!

Sue and I had a reallly good day today. We went for a nice long ride. Went to a couple of antique stores looking for old china for Taylor's wedding. Found some. Also found an old chest that was really inexpensive to use as a coffeee table. Good score! Went to Common Man in Ashland and had a great lunch and a couple of pops. Next we went to the CM gift shop and found a couple of flags. That was important, because our next trip was to Manchester to pick up our friend Dave who was returning from overseas. Dave is on leave from the Army for a couple of weeks. Dave's wife works with Sue, and she broke her ankle badly a coupke weeks ago slipping on the ice. Dave wanted to surprise his wife (Susan) and didn't tell her he was coming home. So Sue and I got the honor of picking him up at the Airport. It gave us goosebumps seeing Dave getting off the plane. We proudly waved our flags so he could see us.

A Real Hero

This is Dave hugging my Sue. And you can see that he is glad to be home! And I'm not jealous because I got a big hug too! lol

This shot was taken with my flip video and  the shot was stripped out using some free capture software from X2X. Really simple to use software.

And we did get Dave home to surprise his wife. Sue called her and asked to stop by under some pretense to see how she was doing with her broken ankle. She was kind of down because she's been in pain, and misses Dave (hadn't seen him since September). Anyway, mission accomplished! We got Dave home and Sue was in shock!



Mission Accomplished

Sue and I feel really good that we could help in some small way. What a great day!

God bless America. Support Our Troops!
Em

Saturday, April 2, 2011

2011-04-02: Kellie & Craig Wedding Picture

Yikes, it's already 4:20 pm and haven't posted yet today. I've been busy running errands. Last load of Ashley's stuff from the old apartment to the new one, taking my glasses up to be repaired (dropped them off the bedside table and lost a screw), Lowes to pick up supplies to make a sign holder for the art show next week, picking up coffee for the Kuerig, what else? I don't know but it seems like it's been go go go. So I haven't taken a picture today and I'm going to go through my folder and pull out something,
AH! Here's one...It is a picture from our friends Kellie and Craig who got married last month. Now, we know I'm not very comfortable taking pictures of human's, but they asked me to take some pictures. I warned them, but they asked anyway. And they were very happy with this one:

The Kozens'

Aperture: F/3.5; Exposure: 1/60s; ISO-400, With Flash

This was taken at the Woodshed restaurant in Moultonboro last month. The lighting was horrible and it was so dark, I really couldn't tell if the pictures were in focus when I looked through the viewfinder...I don't know how the pros do it. Other people with cameras kept jumping up in front of me. I was really stressing trying to get something decent. But I did get some good ones. I'll have to read up on that wedding photography. You never know when I'll have to do it again!
But the important thing was that Kellie and Craig were happy with what I did get. It was a wonderful wedding and I'm so happy that I got to be a part of the celebration.
Best of luck guys! See you soon.

-Em

Friday, April 1, 2011

2011-04-01: Emery Swanson Photo Sells for $1 million Dollars! TTE Part 4

Woo hoo! Yes that's right! I made my first sale!
The fourth installment in the "Though the Eyes..." series has sold for 1 million dollars!  The idea was given to me by one of my repected followers, Jordan of Laconia... Jordan responded to my request for ideas for the TTE series. Jordan's idea is here in living color..Through the Eyes...

...Of a Dead Goldfish

Aperture: F/64 ; Exposure: 3 hours; ISO: 3200 

Taken by placing my camera in a ziploc bag with a 10 second delay and dropping it in the toilet.

Now I can afford a new camera after the ziploc leaked.... All right, I know...April Fools...

But making the big score could happen. It did for one of my favorite photographers, Peter Lik. Check out this link to a photo called "Once " that he took in NH on the Androscoggin River. This really did sell for a million bucks back in January. Unbelievable art. By the way, this isn't a joke. Peter Lik - Once. Oh, and Peter has a new show on the Weather Channel on Thursday nights where he travels the world and shows us how he gets his shots. Check it out.

Ok, enough of the hijinks...Have a good day!

By the way, we are encountering a snow storm here in NH..No really... I swear. It's happening right now! Why doesn't anyone believe me?

Em