Desert Snow – February 11, 2013
So the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, Arizona rarely gets rain, let alone snow. But it does happen on occasion. This is an image I chased several years ago. I knew the mountains to the north of the valley had snow on them, but I only had a couple of hours before a meeting. I started driving north on I-17 to the Cave Creek turnoff, then went east. I was late for my meeting, and this is as close to the snow I got on this particular day. Shot on February 11, 2005. This was shot with a “borrowed” Canon Digital Rebel with a kit lens. ISO-100, F8, 1/320 sec, at 18mm.
Rosalie’s 75th Birthday Party – February 10, 2013
Tom and Rosalie Messner at Rosalie’s 75th Birthday Party, at her daughter Sheri’s house. Approx 60-70 people showed up to enjoy the open house, food catered by Olive Garden, Lasagna, 5 Cheese Ziti, Cheese Ravioli, Fettuccine Alfredo, and of course salad and bread sticks. Jaz’s cake was excellent! Everyone seemed to have a good time, and commented on how good Mom looked. The only ones missing were her sister Sherry, and her brother Art. We missed you guys. The weather semi cooperated, it did not rain, and it was fairly warm, (mid 50’s). Tom brought his outdoor stainless steel tower propane heater and it was quite toasty out on the patio. As always I enjoy spending time with my beautiful wife’s family. Her brother Mark and I were best friends in high school, and the family joke is that I married his sister to become part of his family. I had a chance to sit out back and talk in depth with Mark, and Jeff. I think we were able to solve many, if not all of the worlds problems. The Open House was from 1-4 pm, and the party broke up around 9pm. I shot 100+ pictures during the party. It seems like everyone enjoyed the day. The entire gallery (115 pictures) can be seen here.
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40mm L lens, at 30mm, ISO-160, F8, 1/80 sec, 580 EX II strobe camera mounted.
Rosalie’s Birthday Cake – February 9, 2013
This is the cake Jaz made for Rosalie’s 75th Birthday party. The top layer was white cake, and the bottom layer was chocolate. Covered in home made fondant, and decorated with fondant flowers, and the pearls are “pearled Sixlets”, which is essentially candy coated chocolate balls. Shot Febuary 9, 2013 with the Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40mm L glass at 40mm, ISO-400, F4, 1/80 sec, with camera mounted 580 EX II strobe. Shot in raw, and processed in Lightroom.
Icy – February 8, 2013
This is the image that I used for the background for January. It was shot up at Jeff and Alison’s cabin in the Happy Jack, Blue Ridge area. Elevation above 6500 feet. Will add camera details later on today, or tomorrow.
Mario’s Tahoe – February 7, 2013
So my buddy Mario purchased a new Tahoe, and put some really nice tires and wheels on it. I said lets take some pictures of your new ride. The reflections on the wet blacktop from the wheels are very blue. This is one of my favorite shots of the night. A long shutter speed, 1.3 seconds blurred the water from the fountain in the background. The water is a different color because of the metal halide lights. The Tahoe is being lit with 2-Canon 580 EX’s off camera left, and right, triggered with the ST-2E. The location is the Pointe South Mountain, in front of the main fountain. Shot February 7, 2009. The 30D, ISO-200, with my EF 17-40 L lens at 24 mm, and F6.3. The lights were on stands, and the camera on my Bogan tripod, and ball head. We had to keep moving our gear out of the road, as this is the main entrance to the Pointe.
Custom Ride – February 6, 2013
So on Fathers Day 2006 Palm Valley Church had a car show in the parking lot of the high school where we were meeting. This is one of the cars that was there. I was playing with a Photoshop plugin called Lucas Arts, which gives you HDR like results. Almost a comic book sort of look. This image is by all means over processed, but it still brings a smile to my face when I see it. The enhanced sharpening, contrast and over saturation are not kind to people, but man do they make machines “POP”! Shot with the Canon Rebel XT, ISO-100, F5.6, 1/640 sec, using my EFS17-85 lens with Image Stabilization at 18mm.
DIY Project pictures – February 5, 2013
H A P P Y 75th B I R T H D A Y Rosalie Messner!!!!! Who by the way is recovering at home nicely.
OK. You got me. This is a continuation of yesterdays post. Seven additional pictures to solidify yesterdays post. I figure roughly 250-300 hours of time went into this “little” project. DIY = Do It Yourself. In this case, I had the idea, the know how, the funds, and Tom’s tools. This project was started shortly after Christmas, 2009. Everything was completed by the end of March 2010, except the “bridge” over the window, and the “bookshelves” or “crown” in the corner, above my workstation. I was at a loss for a good way to tie the corner together. The tools, and materials were at arms length, I needed a catalyst to get the project finished. Enter my beautiful wife Sheri Lynn. She wanted the den finished by her mom’s 75th birthday party, (this Saturday). She works from home and wanted the project finished, and for me to remove the remaining pieces of blue masking tape. Also with over 85 confirmed guests coming to Rosalie’s party.
Sheri Lynn’s desk in the garage between coats of stain, or varnish. The trim pieces are on the floor in front of her desk.
Same as first shot above, but with the 2 main components in place, and the desk tops attached. The tape on the walls tells me where the studs are. I finally was able to remove the remaining pieces of tape yesterday once the final pieces of trim were in place.
This is the cabinet between my desk, and Sheri Lynn’s. My old oak desk is holding pieces of oak trim. To the right is the largest, and heaviest single piece to be hoisted onto the wall.
Same cabinet attached to the wall, the cupboard doors have not been installed. The cabinet to the right is the tallest going all the way down to the desk. You can see there is nothing between the 2 cabinets over the picture window. Sheri Lynn worked from home everyday of the remodel, some days working out of our living room, with cords running all over the place.
This beast weighed in at one million pounds! At least that’s what it felt like hoisting it on to the wall. That’s where those blue pieces of masking tape came in handy, I had the 3″ long drywall/deck screws already started at the right locations to hit the studs. You can see the pre-cut trim pieces awaiting their turn at the router.
This baby was the most difficult to install because of the overall size and weight. Glen Simmons, my neighbor was kind enough to lend a hand with the heavy lifting.
Project – February 4, 2013
So I took a couple of days off of work at GoDaddy to finish a project. I’ve told several people that I built in 3 desks and filing cabinets, and shelves and cupboards, and no one can visualize what I mean. They can now! My wife’s work area is the right side looking out the window. Its normally very clean and orderly. My area is in the middle, and its never been this clean……….Click Here for some full sized images.
Close up of the bookcase above my desk. This area took the longest to finish, much to my wife’s chagrin.
This is my wife’s work area when I started this project.
Jump! – February 3, 2013
Nick & Cara’s Engagement pictures were a blast to shoot. I had them both jump several times, and “enhanced” the height in Photoshop for this image. I had wanted a full frame Digital Single Lens Reflex, (DSLR) for quite a while, and was pretty sure I was going to get one. I had borrowed BJ Starr’s 5D Mark II and had shot it for a couple of weeks. I picked up mine on the day of this photo shoot, but opted to use BJ’s because I knew it was set up and dialed in. March 24, 2012. A really good day! Off camera 580 EXII to the right on a stand, triggered with a ST-2E. ISO-50, 1/160 sec, 28mm.
Elmo & Cookie Monster – February 2, 2013
Cookie Monster & Elmo cupcakes. Jaz had a cupcake order for a birthday party today. Don’t they look yummy? Canon 5D Mark II with camera mounted 580 EX II strobe. ISO-100. F8, 1/160 sec. Processed in Lightroom.
Back Porch – February 1, 2013
Its been 1 month since I started this project. There are several reasons for me starting this blog. I have been incredibly blessed in my life with family and friends, and have been told that I have a “good eye” for making pictures. I enjoy photography. Its a passion. I have amassed lots of photos. Sheri Lynn, my beautiful wife says I don’t ever delete ANY pictures. Part of this project if for me to re-visit some of the pictures I’ve taken, and to better organize them. Also I have people in my life who are struggling, or who have been diagnosed with life threatening illnesses, and this is my tribute to their inner strength. Their hope. Their very will to live. I’m praying for each of them.
Back Porch. July 25, 2005. This image was created with the Olympus C750UZ saved in tiff, ISO-50, f2.8, 6mm, 1/40 sec. In looking back a couple days after I took this picture, I wanted to re-visit the site, and shoot it in better light. Too late, it had been completely bull dozed and hauled away.
Today I also updated the background image. Its red jalapeno peppers, and bright orange habanero peppers. Any one who knows me will know why. (Another passion.)