Inspiration Thursday

Wordless Wednesday

BOO!

Ruby Tuesday Too - Crimson King

This Crimson King maple is in our yard and it's foliage has put on it's bright fall coat.  While this tree is pretty and the leaves are lovely to view, the real show is on the ground.  That's right, take a walk through the leave that have already fallen off of the tree and see what the lens will find.

 The subtle colors and textures in the leaves are truly a show all by themselves.  You can even crop them to a square image like these, print them, frame them, and use them as fall decor in your home.

 Just add water.  There is nothing like a little rain to intensify the colors of any foliage.  Cloudy skies and a little mist are a photographers best friends when capturing detail images of Autumn.

Back the lens up just a bit and you get a collage that only nature could paint.  So, the next time your out on your fall foliage tour, don't forget to look down.  There is a show on the ground that you might be missing.  Happy Ruby Tuesday.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Once again I have let too much time pass since my last Scavenger Hunt Sunday post.  So here are a my thoughts for this week's promts.

Paint

One of the most challenging tasks, when  building a new home or updating your existing abode, is deciding what colors to paint the walls.  You want colors that are fresh and current, but you also want colors that  you can live with for quite some time because you probably aren't going to be excited about painting again in the near future.  Like everything else paint prices have gone through the roof.  I used to use flat white as a primer for everything, just to be sure that my color coat would be true.  I can remember when a gallon of flat white was $4.99-$7.99 per gallon.  Now, the cheapest paint you can get is going to be north of $20.00 per gallon.  Fortunately many of the quality brands now have formulas that are paint and primer in a single coat.  I don't know if I'm entirely sold on that concept.

 



Pumpkin

Okay, so these aren't real pumpkins, they do represent what many people do with pumpkins this time of year.  I found these at a local craft fair.  Most craft fairs do not allow photography of the products, but I was asked by the fair directors to take photos of the craft booths for judging to determine which vendors would be invited back next year.  That gave me access to some unique photo opportunities.  I thought these light fixtures were pretty cool.

 



Family

You guessed it, I didn't take this image.  Most of our family photos are taken during the holidays, Christmas, Easter, summer vacation, Mother's Day, etc. and include the entire brood.  This image is just my wife and I on our Alaskan Cruise.  We were on our way to our 40th Annivesary dinner and there were several photographers stationed around the ship to capture images for the passengers.  It's about the only way that I work my way into the photo.  Usually I am behind the lens.

 

 

Looking Cute

Time flies.  The first image is our oldest grand daughter when she was almost two years old.  She was a very cute baby and had a personality to match.  The second image was taken a couple of years ago and she has grown into a beautiful young lady.  Now she is in her freshman year of college.  One thing that hasn't changed is the sparkle in those eyes and her outgoing personality.

 



Photographers Choice

In keeping with the season I have chosen to feature the colors of fall here in Northwest Arkansas.  The next couple of weeks will be the peak season for fall foilage so I will be taking numerous photos.  I hope to grab a few of the grandcrew and photograph them as well.  That's it for this edition of Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  Have a blessed week.

Skywatch Friday

Autumn in Northwest Arkansas often bring crystal clear blue skies.  It provides the perfect background for the amazing display of color that is a part of the season.  One does not have to venture into the woods to find beautiful trees and photo opportunities.  This tree is in downtown Rogers, AR.  Fall colors are everywhere, even in a place of final rest.

 

Some of my favorite images are detailed captures of the leaves.  They're not quite macro, but they are upclose and personal.

As we say, here in the south,

"Happy Fall, y'all!

Inspiration Thursday

 Precious Memories

Have you ever noticed that the older you get the more important memories become?  In fact, it seems that the past becomes more important that the future for some of us.  During the last few years of my father's life his military service in WWII became more important to him than at any other time in his life.  Some one gave him a WWII veteran baseball cap with the profile and name of his ship on it and he wore it everywhere he went.  There was a time in my life when my military service and time in Vietnam meant very little to me except that it was two years out of my life that I will never get back.  Today, I am proud of that time and when veterans are recognized at various events, I find myself filled with emotion and gratitude for the recognition.
One of the reasons that I have gotten relatively serious about photography is that photographs are a way of capturing memories.  Even when our mind has temporarily lost recollection of an event in our lives a photograph will bring it back to life and we can re-live special times with family and friends.  Those are the most important images to capture.  Yes, I take photos of cars, landscapes, autumn leaves, etc., but the most important images that I capture are those of my family and the times that we share.  The most important photographs that I own are some of those taken of my ancestors, long before I was born.  Those images connect me to people, some that I never met, who lived life in different times, but I am where I am because of some of their decisions.  Even if you have no real interest in photography, take the time to capture memories, print them and save them for your children, grandchildren and future generations that you will never meet this side of heaven.  Memories, they are precious.

Wordless Wednesday

Hobbit Hunting

 

Ruby Tuesday Too

Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and not just because it's football season.  The green of spring and summer give way to a brilliant display of reds, oranges, yellows and even browns.  It's like nature has to have one last fling before winter.  The trees will be at their peak here in NW Arkansas over the next couple of weeks and I will be out and about with camera in hand.  I can't wait 'til the woods are in full color.  Happy Ruby Tuesday all.

Skywatch Friday

Good Morning

Good Evening

These images were not captured on the same day and certainly not at the same location.  Before I retired, I used to carry a small point and shoot camera with me almost everywhere I went.  I kept in in the center console of my truck.  You just never know when the sun is going to put on a show on your morning drive to work.  I was fortunate that my morning drive was pretty rural in nature and not filled with freeways, power lines and traffic.  Beautiful sunsets are a little easier to predict.  Watch the weather, and keep an eye on the clouds during the day.  If there are high clouds in the afternoon, there is a possibility of a great looking sunset that evening.  I know, there are no clouds in this sunset, but I was fishing off of a dock and, as I mentioned, I used to keep a camera close at hand.  Have a blessed week-end.

Inspiration Thursday

Where does your inspiration come from?  If you read this blog for very long you know that I find a great deal of inspiration  and comfort in music.  I love music.  I don't play an instrument and I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I can listen to others and admire their gift.  I like most kinds of music, 50's & 60's pop, classic rock, even disco is okay with me. I like blues, jazz, contemporary (Yanni), country, bluegrass, and soul.  But when I wan to be comforted or inspired, I turn to gospel.  Music that has been inspired by Gods word and speaks to what God has done for us just the best.  Again, I love the hymns of the church, Country Gospel, Southern Gospel (there is a difference), contemporary Christian, & Praise/Worship.  Music of the faith is the reason I started "Inspiration Thursday".  I can share some thoughts from the Word of God and/or share music that fits my thoughts.  I enjoy looking for new artists as well as rediscovering the classic artists songs of the past.  Whenever you need a little inspiration, I would encourage you to find a local Gospel music radio station and listen to a few of the songs.  It just may make your day a little brighter.  Have a blessed week.


There will come a day when I will stand in judgement before my Lord and Savior. When He asks me what I did down here, unfortunately I won't be able to give this answer.

Why do I believe that Christ is the Son of God and that I will spend an eternity in His presence? This song answers that question.

We live in difficult times. The world seems to be filled with war, disease, violence, greed and those things that shake our faith in our fellow man. We should have never placed our faith in man. We need to believe in the truth. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Wordless Wednesday - Rod Run

Let the Good Times Roll!

Ruby Tuesday Too - '40 Ford

When I was a preteen, I enjoyed building model cars, especially street rods.  One of the most popular model kits was a 1940 Ford Coupe.  I painted mine metallic candy apple red.  Like most boys in the late '50's and early '60's, I dreamed of some day owning such a machine.  Alas, it was not to be.  I did own a 1968 Mustang and a 1971 Datsun 240Z, but those were as close to hot rods as I ever got.  Today, I am content to locate a car show in the region and go take photos of the rolling art.  It's a lot less expensive.

 Last week-end my wife and I made the four and a half hour drive to Arkadelphia, AR to see our oldest grand daughter who is a freshman Ouchita Baptist University.  We stayed at a state lodge on Lake DeGray, about nine miles out of town.  It just so happened that there was a "rod run" in the park that same week-end and several of the cars were staying at the lodge as well.  While it may not be a coupe, and it may not be metallic candy apple red, this little '40 Ford Panel Truck rekindled the dreams of my youth.

Wordless Wednesday

The Color of Money

Ruby Tuesday Too

 

One last image from the car show at Bikes, Blues and BBQ in Fayetteville, Arkansas a couple of weeks ago.

Inspiration Thursday