2011-05-31: Hampton Beach...Where's the sun?

Had a wonderfully relaxing weekend in at Hampton Beach. Not beach weather, but it was great to get away from the usual house chores I get myself into. Read a lot, ate a lot, and walked alot...And took a lot of advil. Over-did the walking. Don't think my knee is really ready for it, but I figured I'd better push myself or I'll never build up the strength I need for golfing and parachuting...So I wanted to get up early and catch the 5:09 sunrise with my trusty camera. I set my alarm and then figured "What? Am I nuts? Sleep in!" So I shut off the alarm. And you guessed it....I woke up at 4:30..Ug...So I went to the beach. Found a great location near the jetty and waited for 5:09....Nothing! The fog was so thick, we didn't see any sun till 11:00. But I did get some other shots that I'll be showing over the next few days. Here's the waves crashing on the jetty as I peer over some rocks.

Exposure: F/5; Exposure: 1/150s: ISO-100

Zoom Focal Length 180mm 5:04am

I really had to lighten this up in PS to be able to see anything,.

On a sad note: we heard on the news that a 12 year old girl was missing at Hampton Beach after she got caught in the riptides last night around 8pm. Her brother was rescued but she is still missing. I can't imagine....Horrible...

Em

ps. And so ends Month 5.  Day 151 of Project 365...Can I do it?????

2011-05-30: Memorial Day...

Thinking about all of my family who have passed on. They are greatly missed

 Dad

Mom

 Paternal Grandparents

 Maternal Grandparents

Step-Grandparents...Yes I was lucky to have 3 sets of grandparents!

Miss you all....

Em

2011-05-29: Just things

Ok, done with the things I hate week...Wow, that put a damper on my mood all week. Hope it didn't affect you...So today while I'm away...Just a nice little microscopic flower from the back yard... (I'm infatuated with these little guys and keep mowing around the bunch)
Anyway, I like them... So enjoy,,,

I know.. I'm rushing...trying to get things posted now since I won't have internet where I am...Hopefully I'll get some nice shots of the beach for next week.

Have an awesome day
Em

2011-05-28: Things I hate...Day 7

Here it is...What you've all been waiting for....The biggest pain in the neck of all...The NH state bird. The Anopheles quadrimaculatus.. Otherwise know as the mosquito...(Go ahead..Look it up!) Yes it's that time once again when the weather is nice enough to be out, but who wants to get bit? Does anyone know of a warm climate without annoying bugs?
Anyway, I took one for the team here. Sat out in the backyard with my closeup lens on and sat there and watched the bugger drain me..

The Damned Mosquito*

So there you go...The most miserable thing of the week... Tomorrow, back to nice stuff. I am away for the weekend at the beach, but can't miss a day now. I've been so good.
Have an awesome weekend.
Em

* Yes, a whole bunch of mosquitos were injured or killed during the filming of this episode.

2011-05-27: Things I Hate..Day 6

Hey, didja ever notice....You go into a store like Lowes or Home Depot (2 of my favorites...I do like to shop there).. That there are maybe 10 checkout lines....and 4 self checkouts...No cashiers...Except the one who has the unenviable task of fixing all the self checkouts that never work...Drives me nuts! There's always some bar code that doesn't work... Or the card reader doesn't work... etcs..Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
If they can't afford to pay cashiers, why don't they rip out the registers and put in a bar...At least I could grab a beer while I'm waiting to pay for my box 'o' stuff. Sign of the times...At this home depot, they have a special spot closed to the store for the cashier of the month....To bad there are no candidates to use this space...I'm standing where someone would be parking if that someone had a job...Or maybe that poor soul fixing the checkouts can't afford a car..

Hey, Getting back to the Bar idea, I have my bartenders certificate...I could even mix my own drink....They wouldn't heven have to pay a bartender..A win win for everybody..

Day 7 (and Last) day of venting is tomorrow...

See ya
Em

2011-05-26: Things I Hate Day 5....

AHHHHHH... 8:30pm and nearly forgot to post. I know this is important information I am providing, so I don't want to leave you hanging. One of the real big things I hate is...GROCERY SHOPPING!! Ackkkkkkkk.  From the inconsiderate toads that block the aisles yapping to their friends, refusing to move, to the aisle displays that take up 1/2 the aisle, to the cashier-less registers...Thank god my wife likes to go, or we'd starve. So here's todays pic.

Well I do like to go once or twice a year to see what new snack foods have been invented, but other than that....I'd rather stay home and mow the lawn.

Couple more days of hateful things and then on to something happy.

Have a great night!
Em

2011-05-25: Things I Hate Day 4..WAIT! STOP THE PRESSES!

I was going to entertain you with some more trivial things that I hate, when this news flash came in...I got out on the driving range yesterday! After 2 1/2 agonizing months..(6 if you count the winter) where I could not golf. 2 1/2 because of this dang knee injury. Well, it's gonna happen soon! I got out on the driving range, and hit a bucket of balls, with minimal pain. Woo hoo! The most painful part was walking up the hill to the range, but actually hitting wasn't troublesome...Anyway, just swinging at a ball put me in such a good mood, that I thought I'd interrupt this weeks theme...So something I love....

Hello old friend...

Pheasant Ridge 9th hole

Ah, the sweet sound of the club on the ball! What a joy! The smell of the grass...The non-rainy afternoon! The mosquitos.....WAIT!!! There goes that good mood again....Now I have a subject for another day....

FORE!
Em

2011-05-24: Things I Hate...Day 3

I really don't think of myself as impatient, but one of my irritants is TRAFFIC! I have places to be and things to do....The real peeve is people who drive along under the speed limit yapping on their phone, swerving across lanes...with no consideration for anyone. Grr. And then there's the people who move to the left lane to take a right turn...ARGH!! And it's almost summer and the traffic on the one-lane road to work is going to be jammed packed with tourists with no rush to get anywhere. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  My blood is starting to boil just thinking about it... (ok em...calm down...)
So in honor of the hated traffic....

Green Light and No-one's moving...

Allright, breaktime is over...back to work where I can go as fast as I want!
Zoom Zoom!

Em

Remember...You can only go as fast as the idiot in front of you... Food for thought, when you're stuck behind me...:-)

2011-05-23: Things I Hate: Day 2

While this particular hated thing isn't happening now, it is still on the list....SNOW! Man we got enough of it this past winter, didn't we? Just makes me want to get out of here more and more....Even the past 2 weeks of rain is not as bad as snow... (but it may make the list by the end of the week)...I need warm sunshine!
Snow can ruin any day...It can even spoil a good golf game, doncha think?

Keep your Eye on the Ball

This was from a couple of years ago in January, but it still is fresh in my mind...Ok, it was actually fun..Jordan and I got out on the course in January...But I still hate snow. To Quote Jimmy Buffett: I Gotta Go Where It's Warm!
More horrible things to come...
Em

2011-05-22: New Theme....THINGS I HATE!!!

Ok, this theme was an easy one once I saw the little critter below.  I was out in the yard exploring and came across it...This is on my top 10 list of most hated things.. SLUGS! Yuck. Never fails....I walk around outside in bare feet and I find slugs. This one however, was safely sitting on top of a mushroom on top of a log.

Just Plain Yuck

Aperture: F/5.6 ; Exposure: 1/13s; ISO-100

As much as I hate it, I did make it look pretty good.

All right...What will make my hate list tomorrow? Stay tuned...

Em

2011-05-21: The Graduate!

Our oldest daughter Ashley graduated from Lakes Region Community College today with a degree in Human Services. We are so very proud of her. She has worked hard to get her degree in something she believes in (caring for others) while working full time.  She's an amazing woman!

Seems like just yesterday Ashley was my little shadow following me around. I do miss those days, but I look forward to seeing what she does next as she makes her mark on the world. Love you sweetie!

XO
Dad

2011-05-20: Seen around the yard...Hydrangea

I'm eating lunch now and figured I'd better get the post in before I forgot. It's Friday and who knows what kind of mischief I'll gt into tonite..Everything has been blooming like crazy this week around the yard. And we've had so much rain that all the blooms are already starting to fall off. So I decided that I'd better start shooting flowers before their gone.. Here's a pink Hydrangea in our side yard...This was a few days ago...Today it's mostly gone due to the rain...

Pink Hydrangea

On a dreary day...

Aperture: F/11; Exposure: 1/2s ; ISO-100

And here's the whole bush with a little techno thrown in. Accomplished by zooming the shutter out as I snapped. This is also a great effect for Christmas tree lights.

Zoom!

Aperture: F/29; Exposure: 4s; ISO-100

Ok, one more day of yard stuff and then I've got to find a new theme...

And tomorrow my daughter Ashley graduates from College. Yay Ashley! Love you! Great job! Yeah, I'm wicked proud of her...

Have a good rest of the day gang,

Em

 

2011-05-19: Seen around the yard...Cardinal

Woa! Almost forgot to post today. Busy as all get out at work today. Which I guess is good. Then watching the B's game with Jordan tonite, and time got away from me. So without any further ado,  here's a pic of a Cardinal that has been darting around the front of the house lately I don't need the bird app to identify this one.

Big Red

Aperture: F/5.6 ; Exposure: 1/125; ISO-100

Zoom Lens 300mm

Ok, nothing real exciting to talk about tonite.  Sorry. Gotta get back to the game. B's are up 1-0 in the 3rd.
Go B's!

Em

2011-05-18: Seen around the yard...My entertainment for the day

While I was watching the activity out the window...this bird gave me endless entertainment. He had some dried up ol berry in his mouth. Then he'd squawk and drop it. Pick it up...Squawk and drop it again...Pick it up and repeat. This went on for about 5 minutes till he finally dropped it off the wall and jumped down out of site...I couldn't help but laugh.

As you can tell, I am easily amused...:-)

Oh! By the way, I mentioned yesterday that I needed an app to identify birds..I found one, Peterson Birds...This is a Gray Catbird I believe.

Squawk!

Em

2011-05-17: Seen Around the Yard 3: Yellow Finch

I was working from home the other day, and realized why I don't stay home more often...I'm easily distracted. Too many things to grab my attention and keep me from my work. There is a bird feeder outside the dining room window where I usually work, and the thing was a great source of distraction on this particular day. Yellow Finches, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Orioles, Red Sox...whoops...distracted again...(They won again last night by the way vs. the Orioles)...Anyway, as I was saying...there was a lot to see. I kept taking pictures until I finally realized I had to put away my toy or I'd never get my work done.
But here are a couple from the Yellow Finch Category...

I Can't Help Feeling That I am Being Watched...

 

A-HA! I Knew it!

Aperture: F/5.6 ; Exposure: 1/30s ; ISO-100

Zoom Lens 300mm Focal Length

Finch about 8' away from me

It is not too easy getting pictures of birds. They don't often sit still. But this little guy was a good subject. Just sat there and watched me watching him (or her).

I'll have to see if there is an App out there to help identify birds...I knew this one, thanks to Sue, but unless it's one of the birds listed above, I have no clue...I need an app for flowers too. If you know of any such apps, please let me know.

Now go out and have an awesome day!

Em

2011-05-16: Seen Around the Yard: Part 2

While I was meandering around the yard the other morning looking for something cool, I sat down on the wall out near the woods. It was a beautiful morning (6:55am) and I spotted this fern just starting to come up as it does every year. I looked really close to see if there was anything remotely interesting about it. Boy was I surprised. Up close, the leaves look like grapes. Very bizarre!

New Fern

Aperture: F/5; Exposure: 1/25; ISO-100

Close-Up lens 

It was hard to get this shot as there was a slight breeze. But I was pleased with the results. You never know what you'll find when you really look!

I've been trying to justify buying a real Macro lens, but the cheapo Close-up lens ($10 on ebay) seems to be doing the trick for now..

Have a good one!

Em

2011-05-15: Seen Around the Yard...

I had a really good week photo-wise...It started last week when I went outside to take a picture of the bat and ball. I was laying on the ground and something clicked, and I started to notice things again. Maybe it is just because there finally isn't snow on the ground, and I can finally get down there. Whatever it was, I was feeling really stoked and rejuvenated again. It's been a rough couple of months, being incapacitated with the knee. But this week I feel like I'm getting my mojo back.
Anyway, while I was down there in the dirt, I noticed this little flower. Or weed. I'm not sure what it is, but there was a clump of these in the grass. Each flower is about the size of an eraser. What do you think? Am I getting my eye back?

Tiny Flower, and Tinier Bug

Aperture: F/5.6 ; Exposure: 1/25s; ISO-100

Close-Up lens

The really cool thing is after I got it back to the computer and looked at it, I noticed the little guy watching the goings-on.
So this weeks theme will be things I noticed around the yard...That should get me some subjects. By the way...I mowed around this clump of flowers, so there may be more coming.

See you tomorrow
Em

2011-05-14: Couldn't Resist

I know, I know. I said I was  done with the baseball theme.  But I was really happy about the Sox beating the Yanks last night so I had to do just one more.. I was messing around with Photoshop last night...And I've been looking at these shots of the bat and ball that I had. And I had an idea that I really wanted to try...So here's the LAST baseball shot (for this week). I desaturated the image. Then used the replace color tool to get the stitches back to red. So here you go...

Ok, that's it....No more baseball shots.. Thanks for your patience!
Have a good weekend.
Em
(Go Sox!)

2011-05-13: Hey It's Me!

What's up with Blogger today? Guess they are having issues, because a couple of days of the blog are missing...

Anyway, last post in this baseball themed week. With the Red Sox 5 games out of first place and a record of 17-20, it's not great. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games and lost their last 2. This weelend we've got 3 games against the Evil Empire. Yikes.

But I'm not giving up, The season is still young. Here's s self pic from the game last weekend taken with my iPhone. And actually, the first one was run thru a program called ASCGen dotNet that converts everything to numbers. Kinda cool.

Here's the generated one:

And here's the original.

Well after this week, can you tell I love baseball and the Red Sox? I hope they'll love me back and win 3 straight from the Yankees.

I kind of like this weekly themed approach to the blog...I'll have to put on my thinking cap tonite for next weeks theme...

Have a good weekend

Em

2011-05-12: Cave Wall

Note: No I didn't miss a day..This was scheduled to post yesterday, but blogger was having issues, and it sat in queue, but never posted...But here you go!

I told you the other day that I had the Green Monster at home...And here it is in case you didn't believe me. Jordan brought this home from Vista where he works. It was a beer display, and he held it on his roof while he brought it home. It's 20 ' long! What a guy! He knew I really wanted the Green Monster on some wall at home...And now I have it. On my wall in the Man-Cave, otherwise known as a garage. It's an UGLY picture, but it's a great wall. As a matter of fact, Jordan brought me all of these beer signs.

So until I can convince Sue that having the Green Monster painted on our living room wall can only enhance the property value, I'll have to settle for this...

Em

ps. RIP Celts....Go Bruins!  C'mon Sox...

2011-05-11: Old Timey

In keeping with the baseball theme I seem to have adopted this week, after going to the Sox game, I present todays image. I knew I had an OLD bat (no not my lovely young wife), but an actual Louisville Slugger that was my Dads. Now I'm not sure of the actual age of it, but I remember it in his trunk back when I was in 3rd grade. It's at least 43 years old. I'm not sure if it was new at that point, or whether he had it as a kid. But anyway, it is yet another thing that I have been lugging around and don't want to part with. I was out this morning, laying on the wet lawn to get this shot.

Old Louis

Aperture: F/5.6; Exposure:1/50s; ISO-100

With a little PS desaturation

I had a good day today.  Took a ton of pictures, so I'll have some material for awhile. And I went to the doctors and he said my knee is coming along just fine. I may be able to get out to the driving range in a couple of weeks. That will be good.

And now, time to root for the Celtics...They are down 3 games to 1 vs. the Heat. Ug...Let's hope the day ends as good as it started.

Play Ball!

Em

2011-05-10: Light it up!

I was messing around with Photoshop last night, trying different techniques. The shot below was of the lights at Fenway on Saturday. The clouds were black and on went the lights. I didn't think much of the original shot, but with a little cropping, and adjusting the contrast a bit, it makes it look pretty good I think..

And here is the original:

There I go getting all artsy-fartsy again..Don't tell my wife...She hates when I do that.

L8r

Em

2011-05-09: Beer AND Nuts!

Need I say more? This was the line to be in at the Sox game Saturday. Me and 30, 000 of my closest friends. Actually, Sue and I were just trying to stay out of the way during the 2-hour rain-delay.
This shot was taken with my iPhone.

There's something about Red Sox green that I just love. But everytime I suggest painting our house that color, or painting the Green Monster on our living room wall, Sue shoots it down. Something about "Resale Value" or some such thing. Oh well. I should be happy that I have a 20' Green Monster sign in my garage, shouldn't I?

Maybe I'll show you that tomorrow....

See ya! Go Sox! Go Celts! Go Bruins!
Em

2011-05-08: Happy Mothers Day!

Hope all the moms out there had a great day. I was blessed with 2 mothers who love me very much. Sadly by birth mom died 5 years ago at the age of 69. I miss her. My step mom raised me from 3rd grade on and she means the world to me. She's 4 hours away, and I didn't get a chance to see her this weekend, but hopefully will soon. I just ran outside and got this pic of some Azaleas  in our yard. So for my moms...

Thinking of you both



Aperture:F/36 ; Exposure: 8s; ISO-100

Taken 5/8 6:50pm

Love you both. Happy Mothers Day! Thankyou for all you have done to make me who I am..
Em

2011-05-07: Day at the Museum

Spent the day with my sweetheart at the most famous and beautful museum in the world. Of course I'm talking about Fenway Park. Sue got us tickets and a bus trip to the game for my birthday. The Sox beat the Twins 4-0 today. There was a 2 hour rain delay, but they did get to finish the game. The sky got so black. It was erie.

Rain Delay

Taken with my iPhone

There's nothing like being at Fenway..The sights, the sounds, the smells. It was a perfect day!

Thanks Sue!

Em



2011-05-06: Back behind the lens

Yahoo - Well I'm off crutches, and using a cane now. Maybe too soon, but I have to give it a try. And yesterday we had rain all night. Which led to a perfect morning for taking photos. So I did get out in the yard, with a cane and my camera. Took this shot of the poor forsythia bush in front of my house. I say poor because it looks bad. It got pretty damaged from all the snow I had to shovel off the roof this winter. All the neighbors have theirs in full bloom. We have about 20 flowers total. Maybe it's time for a new bush.

Forsythia after the Rain

Aperture: F/4.5; Exposure: 1/40s; ISO-100

Not a bad close-up shot, but boy I wish I could splurge and get a real macro lens...Someday!
Jeeze, if I'm not careful, I'll need a new zoom lens too. I left my zoom out in the garden where it stayed in the rain all day until I went looking for it at night. Luckily it was not damaged..Yikes.

Well off to the Sox game with Sue tomorrow. She bought me tickets for my birthday. A nice bus trip down to the game in Boston. Can't wait! What a weekend for sports...Bruins on now..They are up 3 games to 0 against the Flyers. Then the Celtics tomorrow night against the Heat (they are down 2 games to 0) :-(
Go TEAMS!

Talk tomorrow night!
Em

2011-05-05: Another Oldie from the Archives

I was looking out the window last night at the pouring rain. Too dark to get a decent shot. But it reminded my of this one I took last May. This little guy was out in the blue spruce in front of our living room window, screaming at us to turn the TV up..Or to bring him some worms.

The robins are always building their nests in this tree so I imagine they'll be laying some eggs soon.  I look forward to it. Spring is here!

Ok, it was just a quick blurb. It's billing time at work. Busy time of the month so no time to chit chat..
See you tomorrow
Em

2011-05-04: A new Perspective

As I mentioned yesterday, I didn't have time to get out and get any shots. I wanted to get out this morning and get pictures of the flowers starting to come up, but, it was raining. I'm hobbling around on crutches and didn't really feel like putting the effort into getting a raincoat and trying to keep the equipment dry, and holding up a camera on a tripod while balancing on crutches...yada yada yada....
So I started going thru my old shots. Next month's assignment is flowers, so I focused on finding those. I found these from May of last year. I took a shot of a planter while Sue and I were down on the coast having lunch. The shot was overexposed and had a lousy composition ,so I considered that a throwaway. Since I don't throw anything away, I still had it in my files. I looked at it last night, and messed around in photoshop. Adjusted the levels, gave it some contrast, unsharpened the mask, and VOILA! A keeper I think...

The Keeper

Of course, that is just my opinion, but the point is that sometimes you just need to give something a second look, from a fresh perspective. There's no telling what you'll find.

Em

2011-05-03: Good meeting tonite

Had a really good Photography club meeting tonite. Went almost 3 hours, starting with a really nice program by Dave Cushing from Ritz camera, and then review of member photos. We have some really talented people in thus group. Proud to be a member!

Next months assignments are Waterfalls. Album covers, and May Flowers. Thank heavens something more interesting than mud!

Anyway, I had a crazy day at work, and then camera club, and now watching the Celts game which I recorded (don't tell me the score if you know), so no time for new shots for the blog. I'm sitting here watching the game with my faithful dog Bella. Here is a shot I took last month, but I don't think I posted.

Ain't she cute?
Hopefully I'll have time to take some shots tomorrow.

Go Celts!

2011-05-02: God Bless America

God Bless America...

Amen....

2011-05-01: Making Progress

I did manage to hobble out to the back yard today with a cane instead of crutches. Kind of hard since the cane kept on sinking into the soft wet ground. I brought my camera and a big trash bag and laid down next to the little creek out back looking for the perfect mud shot. No such luck. But I did get this shot from down low. It's nice seeing things start to turn green again.

From Down Low

I was reading a chapter in one of the Craft and Vision books, and it suggested getting shots from a different angle than what you would normally see. Something down low, which is what I was going for here.

Well, back to the office tomorrow. I'm actually looking forward to getting a change of scenery after being stuck in the house for a week. And If I see something interesting along the way, you'll see it here.

Take care

Em