Happy Halloween

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k10 f1.4~~1/10~~ISO800~~50mm pentax prime

Ghosts and goblins

The night before the scariest night of the year and I take my camera out on the sidewalk to capture the lights of the season. I was not out there but 2 min and I had 4 neighbors walk by all interested in what I was doing. I think they were making sure I was not a peeping tom or some thing. But I took advantage of this and with each one I explained what I was doing. I put my camera on timed exposure, clicked the shutter and zoomed in. I explained how I lit the inside of my house. Once they saw the flash go off inside the house as I snapped the shutter they knew I was legit. But I could tell at least at the beginning they were sceptical. I guess I look a little scary at 8pm at night in the dark wearing black with a ski mask over my head. Well everything was true but the ski mask. BUt a great teaching moment for those that know little or nothing about photography. I am sure I was the talk of the household when they got back from their walk.
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k10 f9~~13 sec~~ISO400~~motions zoom 20-75 Tamron

And I will take a ham sandwich

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f4~~1/400~~ISO200~~28mm

This young man did a great job for me and made it real easy to take this set of shots. Way to go Josh

Bring on the rain

Rain has hit the Puget Sound. Flood warning for our rivers and no sight of the sun for the next 100 or so days. Winter has hit the northwest. Break out the rain boots and umbrellas and stay as dry as possible.

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K10 f4.0~~3 sec~~ISO400~~28mm pentax 18-55

Transparent Screen

I love these new virtual screens. They are lighter and seem so transparent. What will they think of next?
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k10 f11~~.3 sec~~ISO100~~40mm pentax 18-55

Lighting the subject--dark and mysterious

Playing with light tonight. I had a Pentax 540 camera left sitting on floor 45 degrees. I started at 1/16 power but did not have enough umph so I cranked to 1/8 power. Hairlight directly behind subject at full power, also a 540 flash both triggered with my pocket wizards. Played with different poses and it came down to this dorky shot.
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K10 f8~~1/15~~ISO100~~31mm pentax 18-55

Stillness

And all through the house not a creature was stirring. Category picked by Eric. With my girls off to bed I enjoy some alone time. A bit of light reading, see the Angels lose to the Yankees and then off to bed.
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k10 f8~~1/15~~ISO100~~55mm off camera flash 45 degree camera right with grid

Mickey Mouse

A new addition to our October/Halloween/Fall decor. Mickey joins us for dinner on a nightly basis. With a well lit glow coming from his mouth and eyes he makes us smile and think of the trip.
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K10 f2.8~~1.6 sec~~ISO400~~28-75 tamron at 28mm with lamp overhead illuminating subject.

Water

I took some shots of a water bottle today. Two off camera flashes 45 degrees both sides of camera 1/8 power. Designed in Photoshop.
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f16~~1/180~~ISO100~~75mm

A single flower

Rain was off and on all day today. I single flower rested next to my mom today. It would have been my parents 54th Anniversary today.
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f5.6~~1/40~~ISO100~~75mm

October--Start of the Holiday season

Pumkins are the essence of Fall. IT gets your ready for the start of the holidays.
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f2.8~~1/10~~ISO1600~~75mm

Monsters Inc

My daughters favorite Monster.

Square

I had a hard time narrowing it down to these four. The shots were all a bit different and it tells the story. I have never seen my daughter light up like she did when she saw Tinkerbell. This is what kids dream about. And her favorite Princess is Belle, as it is mine as well. She loved all the big kid rides but the handy standbye merry-go-round made an interesting capture. And Walt Disney himself standing in front of the mighty Castle.

Favorite things you like to do with your family

We love to travel. Our daughter has grown accustomed to getting on a plane and heading "somewhere hot" Here she is with a Disney Character and lounging on the "C". How well do you know your fairytales? Who is she standing next to?

The Happiest Place on Earth

My only non pentax shot of the year. My daughter was a amazing. The human body can withstand a lot if you have the will to do something. She was so under the weather today but would have been crushed if she didn't meet her disney friends.

Cold and Wet today

What do you suppose this is?
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f2.8~~1/3~~ISO400~~28mm

Smile

Tacoma schools received some positive publicity today. Two schools went live and on the air to discuss their school programs. I was invited to take shots of the event. Now I need to see how I can get a job at the joint. LOL
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f2.8~~1/50~~ISO400~~75mm

Shear panic

This is truly a "take the camera out and snap the shutter" shot. A co-worked asked me if anyone in our group had any shots of the COW (computers on wheels) and I said I would take one, thank goodness. Today is the first day I forgot (think about) taking a picture. I am so glad Emily emailed me and asked for a shot of the computers. This is my version of our district COW.
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k10 f2.8~~1/50~~ISO400~~28mm

Clean lunch room

No such thing in a Middle School Lunch room but this cafeteria is spotless, at least before lunch. I am amazed at our digital natives. These kids no nothing else but technology. Those of us over 35 are digital immigrants and have had to pick up bits and pieces over the years. How would you ahve liked a big screen TV 14 feet x 14 feet?

sidebar--I was teaching a class to adults tonight and someone asked me after the class how I got to be so knowlegable with technology. Well, it all starts with a passion. Anything electronic is a passion of mine, 'cept cell phones and copy machines. Photography is a passion on mine and to get better at your passion you practice and play. The DSLR has made that so much more affortable with instant results and print only what you want, and according to my main squeeze I need to print more. :)
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f2.8~~1/30~~ISO400~~28mm

Supreme Court Justice

I figured one of my 365 shots would be a Supreme Court Justice. LOL Mary Fairhurst visited the New MS in Tacoma today to swear in the elected ASB officers. I was lucky enough to be the photographer that took some shots. I was Uncle Bob-ed Here is a shot of a teacher taking a picture of the Judge talking to kids.
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k10 f1.6~~1/30~~ISO200~~50mm Pentax prime.

Time to Travel

I picked up my passport and headed toward the airport. Cancun here we come. (I wish) These weeks Theme picked by Tim was travel. I took the picture of the Narrows Bridge early in the morning this past Tuesday. The fog and car lights were dramatic in making this picture work for me. And well, the passport has seen its last days of active duty and we are due to renew so we can get out of dodge this summer. Greece maybe?
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k10 f6.3~~1/6~~ISO100~~10mm Pentax 10-17

Bridge shot with k10 f16~~15 sec~~ISO200~~28mm Tamron 28-75 Click on the Bridge picture to make it larger to get the full view.

Paint with color

My daughter wanted to paint with her sparkle paint today. We lined them all up and she pushed 2 colors over onto the table. These are the 2 bottles of paint we used to make our project.
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f7.0~~1/10~~ISO400~~75mm

Fall Party

The big trick or treat is just outside 3 weeks away. Our house is decorated for the big event and this is one of our favorite holidays. Kate loves this time of year as it is also build around the birthday party. The pumkin cup was also in the Jan 16th image. My mom made that cup the summer of '65.

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f2.8 ~~2 sec~~ISO200~~55mm

Pacific Rim

This weeks category is TRAVEL. I believe it is the 2nd biggest port on the west coast (in moving containers) Tacoma is only behind Long Beach or Long Island California. At least it was a few years ago. I might have to go do some research after I post this. Looking at the vessel in the harbor I always wonder what port it has come from. I have a great vantage point in the parking garage of the largest HS in Tacoma. These kids have a great view in the lunch room.
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k 10 f9~~1/125~~ISO200~~28mm

Red Sky at night, sailors delight

Red in the morning sailors take warning....

I think that is how it goes. It was beautiful sunset tonight. This was taken on the way out of my parent workshop. I took four snaps today. This was snap two. My tripod was a 1999 toyota camry.
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F2.8~~1/2~~ISO200~~28mm

Teacher

[TOP picture] Another teacher in the house? Pretty good posture and body position, never turning your back to the kids!!!! And my 2nd shot: was this a tilt shift lens or photoshopped? What is your guess?

11:31 Happiest time of our lives

Our daughter has made our lives so different, in the most spectacular way. Five years ago today we became one of the oldest parents of all time, well maybe not of all time but darn close ;) She has made us stay so much younger and today we celebrated her 5th birthday. We bought her a scooter and of anything she has received from us over the short 5 years this is by far the best present she has received, in her mind. The token blowing of the candles, uneventful to most but precious to the parents
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k10 f5.5~~1/50~~ISO400~~28mm

And Evie, her best friend captured in a perfect light situation. Evie turns 5 in 3 weeks and they have been joined at the hip from the first week of their lives. AND I ONLY SHARE this photo with my daughters big day because I think it is one of my best shots of the year. Evie loves the camera, unlike my daughter. I hope to get feedback on this one. She also made my blog March 10th.
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k10 f2.8~~1/200~~ISO800~~75mm

Play Ball CBBL

CRISP: Eric picked the category this week. My shot is a fall classic. Early October reminds me of crisp clear cold days in the northwest. It also reminds me of baseball both real and fantasy. I have been in this fantasy Baseball league for 14 years. The winner each year gets the Wild Goose Baseball trophy. It is signed each year by the winning team. The coach then keeps the trophy until the following classic and then sends it the the winner of that season. I have had it in my possession 2 of the last 3 years and am in the running again this year. My team is not as good as last year so I am a long shot to win it all. In fact the 8 teams in the playoffs I am ranked 8th. I should not get out of the first round of the playoffs. I still have the box that Dave B. sent it in from Maryland.
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K10 f7.1~~1/320~~ISO200~~50mm Tamron 28-75

Smiling eyes

Her Grandma Gwen would always say she smiles through her eyes, much like her Daddy. Grandma knows best. I saw my daughter so happy today. She had the biggest smiles throughout the day today. We celebrated her birthday early and with her closest 25 friends. ;)
Early morning wakeup as she ws too excited to sleep in, we opened Grampa's present and she loved the CD's. Ate breakfast and jumped in the car to head to the jumpy place. 10am kickoff and all the kids had fun. Had pizza and juice, cake and said our good-byes. Got home and I ran to get my tire fixed. Upon my return we opened presents. and the day had not even started.
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K10 f2.8~~1/20~~ISO400~~28mm

Seeing double

Well it's more than a double, I am seeing 7 different images. Done without a tripod... and the last time I try this w/o a tripod. LOL

Letters from home

I don't remember so many tub toys when I was a kid, but come to think of it I don't remember much as a 5 year old. These seem to be her favorite right now. SHe is always asking, what does this spell and it's something like gfwaq....try and tell a 5 year old what that spells...well she is not 5 yet but in a few days we will celebrate the big 5.
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shot with my k10 f6.3~~1/6~~ISO400~~53mm tamron 28-300