Thunder and tornado warning in Oklahoma

Sisters and best friends

A handful of generations

You might be able to spot 3 different size hands. My Dad, My daughter and my Mom. This was a tradition to have my daughter put a new hand print on my parents bathroom wall every time we came down to visit. She would reach as high as she could and place a planted handprint. I am sure this wall will be painted over at some point in this house's lifetime only to lose the 3 sets of prints. It is sad to me to see this wall disappear as it made my mom very happy.

Thus we come to this weeks category.....ENDING

In the shadows to Heaven

I love you mom

The saddest day of my life was today.

Catagory this week ENDING. This pot has seen it's last days thanks to me as I knocked it over moving furniture in my parents house.

Over 100 in Oklahoma

This is what you do in Oklahoma in 100 degree heat.

Holding her baby

Above the bed

We call her MOM

Bycycle

This one is being put to pasture. We have a new bike for my daughter, still the the extra set of wheels on the back, but we are going to work on that this summer. I added a filter 'poster edge'

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f4.5~~1/3~~ISO200~~35mm

Special moment

This weeks category "Special Moment" picked by Eric.

Mike and Linda's 30 aniversary. Happy Aniversary Mike and Linda.

Children Will and Camden pictured as well. They rented a suite at Safeco Field for a baseball game. Family and friends were invited and it was a great gathering and a great game. M's won. It was my 3rd game this month and they won all 3. I need to go more often, I must be their good luck charm.
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f3.5~~1/50~~ISO400~~28mm

We've all gone Crackers

We went a bit crackers today, 2 haircuts, a friend over, another outing until late tonight, as you can see this is my latest post of the year. I had to throw some crackers together to get my shot of the day. Tomorrow will be special.

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F2.8~~1/40~~ISO800~~63mm

For Dave, Carl and Spice

21 years ago I played my first pickup game in this gym. There were 6 of us original guys. Now there are only 3. Dave, Carl, and Mr. Spice, this shot is for you. The memories here are vast. The start time was 5:30am and as we got older it got closer to 6am. We sat and told stories of the times our principal would lock the classroom doors, a long story. Or how we would let the student body in to get out of the cold and us 6-8 guys would play ball and keep an eye on all 600 kids. We did a lot for the students here at McIlvaigh. It is now only a memory. This gym will be demolished in the next few days and it will become a track and field for the new school A lot of tough games played here in this gym. There have been many teachers play on this court in what we called The early morning mens club or for short E+2squared/C Pictured in the final game. Monte Gibbs, Jon Sousley, Brian Wickens and Lance Cadena. Bri--you couldn't miss a shot today!!

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f2.8~~1/60~~ISO400~~38mm

Last of the totems

I am visting my lockers shot again. I might even have to take another one tomrrow as it is offcially the last day this building will be open to kids. Demo day is coming very soon.

We will see what tomorrow brings.
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f2.8~~1/80~~ISO200~~28mm

Bones

My daughter will start piano lessons in the fall. She loves to go in the living room and put on a musical for us now. It will be nice when she knows what she is doing.

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f11~~1/180~~ISO100~~63mm

High Key

Played with some High Key shots tonight. One is more extreme than the other. Here is my setup of the shots. Off camera flash shoot through, alien bee-like camera left/snoot and reflector camera right.

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F3.5~~1/80~~ISO800~~36mm water bottle

F22~~1/180~~ISO800~~43mm Helmet

Post Processing

I went to my 2nd birthday party in as many days. Yesterday was a trout farm, today was with a big blow up toy. This one was one of Kate's best friends, Justyse, she turned 5 today. Tim threw up a catagory and wanted some post processing done. I added a brickwall, text and a displacement map to look as if the girls and the writing was fading from the side of the building.

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F8~~1/60~~ISO100~~55mm

Fishin' hole

Do I wear this outfit to the party--fishin hole or not. Mom and Dadda say no, but I am thinking otherwise. I win this one. I not only wore this fishing but I caught four trout. Dad is going to grill them tomorrow. BTW this is a dress grandma and grampa bought me for easter. I love my Grandparents.

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f2.8~~1/100~~ISO400~~28mm

brick house errr metal house HDR?

Downtown Seattle. I took a great class from Ben Willmore today in downtown Seattle. He talked about many things and I did have some ah ha moments. Thank goodness for higher education.

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f100~~1/100~~ISO100~~33mm

Casey and Katie

Had the family over for dinner tonight.
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f2.8~~1/400~~ISO100~~75mm

Gifts

Yesterday my daughter received her first flowers. Here is the link to her dance. Aunt Margy who attended the ballet recital gave her the beautiful flowers. They have opened up today with the heat of summer now approaching.
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f2.8~~1/15~~ISO800~~28mm tamron 28-75

Ballet

My daughters 2nd ballet recital was tonight. I took many shots and I decided to post an artistic version that was inspired by Alan's shot and then one that was taken as she reflected on her performance. I like the way the lone bottom flower and her expression match. The girls did a great job tonight and no major mistakes like we had in Decemeber. I will post the video on utube in the morning and give the link then.

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f2.8~~1/80~~ISO400~~28mm tamron 28-75

and the artistic shot

f2.8~~1/160~~ISO400~~75mm

Not a bad picture in the bunch

Pulled out all the lens to see which one to use tonight. These babies have done me right--some for as long as 35 years. Some much shorter. I have a f2.0 50mm full frame Manual focus that was my first lens and it still give me good results. Thinking back to my HS photography teacher Mr. Dave Christie....one of my favorite teachers in High school.
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F3.5~~1/60~~ISO100~~38mm tamron 28-75
2 light setup tonight alien bee-like behind subject. and on camera flash.

food or drink

The theme this week was food or drink. Here is my take on this weeks topic. This shrimp dish is making me hungry. I was asked to shoot a restaurant food and drink establishment this week called Toscanos. A fantastic place to enjoy and relax. If you are ever down in the south end you need to treat yourself.

And another baseball game but much better seats today, Thank you Dave.

Kevin Slowey is pitching and A Beltre is on at second base. The ball is flight in rather interesting in this shot. And then Griffey blasting the ball into centerfield.

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Food shot f2.8~~1/15~~ISO200~~75mm 3 strobe setup. One directly behind subject and one on either side of dish at a 45 degree angle.

Baaseball shots

Slowey f6.3~~1/500~~ISO400~~250mm

Griffey f6.3~~1/80~~ISO100~~85mm

Bisbol

I took my Nephew from Oklahoma to the game today. It was latin baseball day, so we got 2 announcers, one in english and one in spanish. Sorry, it got old real quick. M's did win 2-1 and Casey's favorite player had the winning hit, pictured here. Ken Griffey Jr is not the guy he once was but he came through today. Griffey's game winning hit and my Nephew in a choice seat.

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f6.3~~1/200~~ISO400~~300mm Tamron 28-300

Casey

f4.5~~1/100~~ISO400~~63mm

Longfellows

I am a poet

and I know it

because my feet are longfellows

My daughter has my wifes feet. Long and thin are the demensions and they do a lot of walking. Her friend Evie was over today and as you can see she is worn out.
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f4.5~~1/10~~ISO800~~17mm pentax 10-17

Last of the Totems

Great to be alive

Great to be a totem

This is the last known school photo taken of the McIlvaigh Totems. Shot taken by Lance Cadena. THis once mighty student body of 650 has dwindled down to just under 400. The school will be leveled the first of July and made into a parking lot for the new school that is in the final stages of completion. So long Totems, its been a nice ride.

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f4.5~~1/80~~ISO100~~13mm

sunset

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f2.8~~1/10~~ISO800~~28mm

Miss Monroe

Stained Glass. An 8th grade student made this. How cool it that? I wish I had a teacher like this when I was in Junior High. very nicely done.

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f2.8~~1/801~~ISO400~~43mm Tamron 28-75

Toscano's

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f5.6~~1/40~~ISO200~~50mm