What’s Gotta Stay

Holding on to Life

We have been battling the dandelions hard in our lawn, but they are certainly a tenacious species.  I took this photo of one such pesky bugger that has been sprayed but still hangs on.

The processing that evolved on this one was surprising to me.  As I tweaked various settings I took the yellow saturation all the way down, expecting the entire flower to turn black and white, but instead ended up like this with parts white and the orange portion remaining.

Canon 40D, 100mm 2.8, 1/80 at f/10 and 100 ISO
see it larger on flickr

Tags: flower, lightroom, macro

Edinburgh Show, 2004

The entire tour in 2004 was an amazing experience, in part due to the venues. The shows were set up in temporary outdoor stadiums outside of castles throughout the UK. Of all the nights, Edinburgh’s setting was the most amazing for both the placement and lighting.

I was able to access a catwalk that ran above the stands to capture this and many other shots of the entire setting. What a night.

This scene (different shot, same scene), along with a few others of mine superimposed on the front and back, ended up being used for the cover of the concert DVD filmed that night. Click here to view on Amazon.

Canon 10D, 28-135IS, 1/10 at f/5.6 and 400 ISO
see it larger on flickr

Tags: castle, concert, edinburgh

Spotlights of Many Colors

With less than one week before I leave to travel with the Osmonds for a photo project, I figured I’d get back to the archives and post some concert shots over the next few days.  Looking forward to a very fun 3 weeks on tour and hopefully capturing some great shots for the project.

For the visitors that have no idea what is going on, read about my work with Donny Osmond here.

Photo made in Broadlands, UK. Canon 10D, 1/125 at f/6.7 and 400 ISO
see it larger on flickr

Tags: concert, donny osmond, tour

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Our April was a wild ride of alternating snow and sun, but the flowers are beginning to be in full bloom.  This is definitely the season for tulips, and I am enjoying seeing them all over flickr!  I’ve never really been a big flower guy in the past, but I am sure enjoying photographing them this year.  It’s all about exploring the photographic creativity I hope is embedded somewhere in that brain of mine.

Canon 40D, 100mm 2.8, 1/40 at f/10 and 100 ISO
see it larger on flickr

Tags: flower, macro

Palisades Reservoir Panoramic

This panoramic taken at Palisades Lake while the sun was rising over the mountains to the left caught me at a very introspective moment. I was struck by the feeling of idea of “two masks” like the comedy/drama masks you often see associated with the theater. Here the landscape is brightly lit on the right while still in the shadows on the left. Makes me think how some people where a different “mask” in various parts of their lives rather than just being themselves.

Though I may not always succeed, I try very hard to always be genuine and sincere in all my dealings. Hopefully it shows.

I wrote up some other thoughts while sitting in a chair lakeside this morning. I might share some of them in the near future.

Panoramic created combining 10 images taken in portrait orientation using Autopano.
Please view large and feel free to download the original size.

Canon 40D, EF-S 17-55, 1/80 at f/10 and 100 ISO

Tags: lake, pano, panoramic

Abstract Kinda Day

Today is feeling like an abstract kinda day; so, I thought I’d just shoot whatever was sitting around that struck me and make it feel kinda abstract.

I made a comment game out of it on Flickr to see who could guess.  About 10 comments in calanan won bragging rights with the first correct guess - scent sticks.  Oil bottle with the sticks in it to wick the oil out into the air.  This is near the bottom and obviously the edge of the bottle.

Canon 40D, EF 100mm, 2.5sec at f/11 and 100 ISO

Tags: abstract, macro

We Be Jammin’

Back to posting some concert shots for a bit.  I’ve got to get my head into the upcoming tour project!

John Menzano is a great musician and performer.  I’ve enjoyed seeing him perform lately with Donny Osmond, though I know he plays with a wide number of acts.  I believe he is on the upcoming tour I will be on, so I hope to catch some good shots of him on and off stage!

Canon 20D, 24-105L, 1/80 at f/4 and 800 ISO

Tags: concert, performance

Opening Up To You

Canon 40D, 24-105L, 1/2000 at f/4 and 100 ISO

Tags: flower, macro

I’m Watching You

As my wife and I were taking a Sunday morning stroll through a nearby park on our recent vacation, I spotted a gaggle of geese that included a small family of goslings. I slowly worked my around to an angle that worked with the bright sun and put on my 70-200 so I wouldn’t have to get so close as to disturb them. This little guy was keeping a wary eye on me though while he rested.

Taken at the Shoreline Park in Mountain View, California.

Canon 40D, 70-200L 2.8, 1/320 at f/8 and 100 ISO
Please view large on flickr to see the detail in the hair.

Tags: animal, bird

Last Man Standing

I am happy to report that my replacement 100mm macro lens arrived yesterday, so of course I had to wander the yard (and a few neighbors’ yards) to try it out. I took a few flowers, but I had been wanting to get some detail shots of a dandelion in seed as I had seen some good ones on Flickr recently.

Yesterday has a freak set of snow flurries followed by sun, so there was plenty of flowers covered in water and reacting to the precipitation and cold. I have to admit, though, that I helped this one along a bit with a spray bottle. Is that cheating? I don’t think so; but you can decide for yourself.

Canon 40D, 100mm 2.8 macro, 1/50 at f/8 and 640 ISO
see it larger on flickr for more detail

Tags: dandelion, flower, macro, seed