Wordless Wednesday - Iced Water

Iced Water

Awe...some Mondays

Portrait Practice

 These three figures are a part of the permanent outdoor exhibits at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, AR. Occasionally I like to use them for portrait practice. After the last cold spell, the sun came out the temperature warmed up to 40 degrees and I headed out to visit the museum. 

 I sit like this a lot, especially in church.  I know it's not the most receptive of body language postures, but it's a habit and I am comfortable in this position, just like my model.

 On the other hand, these ladies seem to be in a more receptive mood than the gentleman beyond. I'm sure he will speak, if spoken to, but he probably isn't one to start a conversation. I can relate. 

Enough practice on inanimate objects, what about photographing a live person. Hmm...I didn't bring a subject with me sooo...

 Break out the tripod and see what happens. The background is an area at the museum that our middle grand daughter wants for some of her senior portraits. I need to make sure that I could get the effect that she wanted. Then, off to the woods.

 I've got a few more backgrounds in mind, but I think I'll wait until the grand daughter is available. 

 She's much more photogenic and I'd rather be behind the lens. Have a blessed week.

Skywatch Friday

I try to make a visit to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art several times a year. I made my first visit of the year on Wednesday. Part of the galleries are closed while new installations are being placed. However the outdoor art and trail system are open. This guy is one of the permanent works in the collection. This is the first time I have captured him without the sun directly at his back. Ride 'em Cowboy!

Wordless Wednesday - Winter Walk

Aww...some Mondays

This is Lucy's first winter. She celebrated her first birthday in December so all of this cold weather and snow is new to her. We don't get a lot of cold weather or snow here in Northwest Arkansas, but last Tuesday the temperature reached -1 with a windchill of -16 and we got around one inch of snow.

Lucy did not let the snow deter her from checking the fence line for bunnies. There are a lot of rabbits in our area due to new home construction that is displacing the cottontails. They come through our yard all of the time, leaving their unique deposits. Lucy follows the trail to one of several low spots in the fence that the bunnies use as escape routes. She checks those spots every time she goes outside. I have also mounted a couple of bird feeders on the fence and Lucy believes that what ever the birds kick out of the feeder and on to the ground belongs to her.

Lucy has also decided that eating snow is more fun than drinking water from her bowl, so she sniffs, snorts, then hydrates herself with some fresh snow. Once Lucy has checked the fence line, done her business, and gotten a snow snack, she is ready to return to the warmth of the living room. Dogs are funny people. Have a blessed day.

Wordless Wednesday

Birds of a Feather Part 2

Aww...some Mondays

Lucy: "Dad, I want my own Facebook page. Would you take my profile pic?"

Hoopty Doo!

Winter sports are now in full swing and the conference games have started. Tuesday night I wandered over to one of the local high schools to photograph a game.

One thing that has changed about the game in the past 50 years is that these kids play above the rim...a lot! I believe that the tallest player on our team was 6'-4" and I don't believe anybody could actually dunk the ball.

On this night the home team, in white, lost. It was competitive for about three quarters before the visitors pulled away for good. Still, it was a good photo adventure.

If you have a local high school team near by, get out and go to a couple of games. It is good cheap entertainment. Take your camera and practice your action photography.

In our community senior citizens, age 65+, get free all sports passes. We can go to any home game in any sport for free. Now that is cheap entertainment. See you on the court, or in the pool, maybe at the indoor track, or on the wrestling mat.

Wordless Wednesday

Birds of a Feather Part I

Aww...some Mondays

After 12 days of the temperature never getting above freezing, and staying mostly below twenty degrees, last Friday the sun came out and warmed things up some. There was still a nip in the air, but I decided to head out to a local lake where several people had sighted a black swan. I have never seen a black swan, so the opportunity to see and photograph the bird was more than I could resist.

When I first arrived the bird was swimming in the lake and I was able to get a photo of him/her in the water.

After a few minutes it wandered up on to the shoreline for a photo shoot. I was struck by the red eyes and bill.

Of course any good photo shoot includes a "head shot".

The photographer is also obliged to get the "S-curve" neck image as well. My model was the epitome of cooperation.

After a couple of more poses for the portfolio we decided that I had enough images and parted ways. It was a good afternoon at the lake and I am sure I will get a few more opportunities to photograph this elegant bird again. Have a blessed day.

Wordless Wednesday

Super Moonglow