Snaking its way through the Georgia piedmont, the Flint River forms the southwest border for Upson County, and provides delightful views and experiences. Though a nice feast for the camera in itself, my interest in recent years has been to incorporate other photo pursuits in that setting.
The overlook at Sprewell Bluff Park is available to the public at any time, (a happy thing for one who enjoys night sky picture-taking). However, the area at the bluff itself is generally off limits after dark, (a not-so-happy thing for...etc.).
In the last two months, some kind folks arranged for me to have a couple of nights in the park after dark. I picked nights off from work that were closest to the new moon, but somehow did a poor job of picking the weather.
We had decent conditions for light painting on both nights...
So utilizing the shallow water of the riverbank was basically successful.
But as the nights progressed, so did the clouds.
Aside from the magnificent environment, my reason for wanting to shoot at the bluff during the night was a belief it would be dark enough to give a nice view of our galactic neighborhood.
There were moments i could catch some of the celestial sights.
But there was never a really clear sky. So...one gives thanks for what has been, and hopes for what will be : )
My thanks to Laura, Neal, Bobbie and the others who are stewards of this sweet spot. (Some selected shots of Sprewell Bluff at this spot.)
We met at a dance recital, and in the unlikely event there's any doubt, i had nothing to do with the dancing part. But Montana's ability to levitate high above the stage--and look beautiful doing it, gave me plenty of motivation for us to shoot, which we eventually found time to do.
Dancing of course means being able to twirl around and stuff, but Montana is also part of a special group of folks who are known as the Winter Guard.
Given the limited, lame winters we've had the last many years, i can only hope they're successful in guarding what little we have left of those seasons.
(more Montana here : )
In addition to having a state named for her, she recently picked up the title of "Miss Upson-Lee" for the current year.
But regardless of the accolades or what hat she wears, she is hard-working and kind...and to my delight, she's cool with light painting!
So here's to those who live at a high level, and brighten up our day while doing it : )
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Though i've been 'on' facebook a couple of years or so, i think it safe to say i still know very little about it--including many of my 'friends.' This past Friday a facebook friend became real, as i met Alisha and most of her family--heretofore merely names and images on a computer screen.
By my standards, Alisha lives a long way from me. All i knew of her was from some excellent images and posts she had on facebook. Recently, she responded to a post i'd made about light painting, saying she'd like to try that, and we made plans to get together.
Alisha had access to a lake, which would provide a nice setting for our experiments. The day came for our project, and like most days in the Georgia summertime, there was the proverbial 'chance of afternoon/evening thunderstorms.'
Rain, along with a delightful cool wind, and less delightful lightning, showed up. With those sort of moments, one wonders if one's time and effort would be for naught. But in our case, Alisha's daughter, Grace, took the lead and demonstrated the attitude that endeared Gene Kelly to an entire generation.
Grace lived up to her name, and in no time had her mom involved in a spontaneous, soaking shoot : )
Alisha's husband, Tracy, showed up and cut in on the dance:
while son TJ and Alisha's friend, Janet, provided an audience.
Eventually God's reign put an end to His rain, and we proceeded with the proceedings...
Though staying predominately cloudy, God blessed us with a bit of an evening glow, which made my easy task...all the more so.
And as the twilight crept in, we pulled out the toys and played with the physics of light and time:
(More pretty pictures at this place : )
Alisha wrapped up the evening by wrapping TJ in a bit of color:
So for all my disdain of facebook, i am none-the-less thankful for providing me a new-found friend and collaborator, and look forward to our next adventure : )
Saturday five happy-stances came together to fulfill a desire of several years: being able to photograph the Shoals Spider Lilies on the Flint River by moonlight. Precious time off from work, a full moon, lilies in bloom, a clear sky following days of clouds and rain, and dear friends Pam and Fred, who allowed me to hang out unsupervised in their yard during the night, all worked together to bless my socks off.
Mars was one night away from opposition, when it would be the brightest this year. So bright, even a nearby full moon couldn’t muscle it out of view. In the first image, Mars is the dot to the right of the moon; in the image above, it's the tiny dot in the bottom right of the picture (looking like a period after my name : ) Here it is by itself:
Further along in the sky was big brother, Jupiter. In the shot below one can see the four Galilean moons, (L to R): Callisto, Io, Europa, and Gamynede
In the image below, good eyes (and monitor) will see two dots way below the glare of the moon. The one on the left is Saturn, and on the right is the red giant, Antares--the 'heart' in the constellation Scorpio. (Again, Mars is the bright object to the right of the moon.)
But let us consider the lilies of the Flint. Whether by day or night, they can be a source of delight : )
Luke 12:27
Having never encountered Tia or her friend, Taylor, i wasn’t sure what to expect on our photoshoot. A day or two before, we had talked briefly on the phone and Tia said she was “up for most anything.” (That turned out to be a good clue : )
Our day was cool and rainy, but that in no way discouraged Tia from living her role as a ‘forest maiden.’ With the help of her mom Melissa, little brother Ronny, and best friend Taylor, we foraged my friends’ forest, finding fun features for fulfilling foto-op fantasies…while getting frickin’ wet.
After rocking the rocky hillside and shoals, Tia and Taylor rocked The Rock Ranch in all its wetness.
Once feeling sufficiently rained out, Tia and Taylor let it be known they were ready to move inside and get wet with paint.
As if we hadn't already had an exciting shoot, these mischievous fun-loving gals decided to bless me with my first paint session. If you've never been able to grasp the concept of the second law of thermodynamics, (the natural tendency of increasing disorder), my new friends seemed happy to provide a visual demonstration:
For the coup de grace, the ladies gave proof that 'all that glitters is not gold.' (Sometimes, it's glitter : ) This, probably in response to my saying something about my not being able to imagine this getting any better.
To say this was a mess is an understatement, and to say this was fun would be even more of one. Thanks to my friends Michele and Mark, and my friends at The Rock Ranch...to Melissa, Ronny and my new uber models Tia and Taylor! (You are a mess...and i love it! : )
(Tons of Tia and Taylor at this link)
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As typical in my life, i was up the creek and without a paddle. Thankfully, i didn’t need one...
The rain came down and the bodies of water went up. This happens from time to time. As with earth, wind and fire (etc.), we often prefer a Goldilocks balance: not too much, and not too little. But the last few days have given us much water…so here’s to a thirsty Earth!
Thanks to friends Michele and Mark, i was able to get up close and personal with part of Potato Creek.
(Peruse a plethora of Potato Creek pics parked at this place)
in joy,
king
The most affirming thing in my life is making images that please God and man. I go into shoots, and come away hoping that is accomplished. Gabby gave me good reason to believe the goal was achieved.
We met recently, and spent the day playing...
Knowing i wouldn't be much fun, Gabby brought her mom along for company.
There were some serious moments, such as when we had to do the modeling thing, or read from the Bible--some of which she's already memorized : )
But whether serious or otherwise, it was a day full of joy. I'm thankful God used Gabby and her mom to provide that!
(Gobs of Gabby can be gotten here : )
Though it matters, we’ll set aside the fact my maternal grandmother was called ‘Lizzie.’ This newer model is now making the rounds, and made my camera’s acquaintance the other day.
We were afforded an opportunity to play work by my friends, Michele and Mark, at their work play place. My default philosophy is, if God sets a plate of fun in front of you, say ‘thanks’ and accept it…rather than pretending to be ‘not hungry.’
Through the twists and turns of dance and gymnastics, Lizzie provided quite a stretch for my camera, and way more fun than can be rightly digested in one morning of play work, so we will hopefully have a second serving soon. (Even the sky was crying when we decided to stop.) In the meantime, look at lots of Lizzie here.
I appreciate Michele & Mark working to provide a place for folks to play, and Lizzie and her mom Betsy playing along with the work. (In this case, it wasn't all child’s play : )
I was at Wally’s gas station one evening when Craig Stubbs called my name. He pointed to the inside of his car, where i saw a waving hand pop up. He said, “This is my wife, Crista. She also enjoys photography.”
Following those ten seconds many moons ago, i’ve enjoyed seeing scads of posts of Crista's images on facebook. Her photographs are excellent, and are often accompanied by informative comments.
This spring the idea of getting together to shoot came up, and i was invited to visit the old home place, known as Copper Penny Ranch.
Our visit finally happened a few days ago, and i enjoyed spending a morning meeting many of Crista’s friends. Here are some of them...
More Copper Pennies on deposit here. (Buzz on over : )
While strolling by the woods, we saw a brand new baby accompanied by its mamma.
The resident air patrol saluted the new arrival with a fly-over.
And speaking of flying, the time did. It was noon before we knew it, and so before parting company we watched some baby barn swallows having lunch.
Though inside my attitude wasn't too different from the whiny birds, i politely pretended i was ready to leave, (but genuinely grateful for the good experience and gracious host : )
I think i can truthfully say (hatchlings notwithstanding), a good time was had by all. Thanks much, Crista (and Craig! : )
The confluence was two-fold: our solar system, and my schedule. It was a weekend off from work, and there was no place or thing i had to be or do. As for our celestial neighborhood, the two brightest planets were (from our vantage point) getting close together, and on that very night, a cool, crescent moon would join with them in tight formation.
Checking the forecast every so often, i had an almost child-like giddiness thinking ‘the stars’ were lining up so well. There should be a few clouds around to make for a nice sunset, but the sky in general should be clear.
My neighbor, James, (eager to try out his new camera) and i grabbed some fast food and headed west…looking right into the face of a massive line of dark gray coming from the northwest. “It’s early…that’ll pass right on through and we’ll be done with it before the show starts.”
As younger folk are want to say, “Yeah, right.”
It didn’t pass. We got to the overlook near Sprewell Bluff as the demarcation of cloud had just passed the sun. I started a gopro time lapse, but after a while, the rain made its way to our vantage point, and i saw no point in tempting fate.
Of course, once i dismantled the time lapse setup, the 127 drops of rain i encountered were done, and so James and i stood around on the platform, thinking our evening was a waste, and wondering which of us would be first to order a retreat.
With naïve hopes there might be sufficient parting of the clouds later that evening before our targets dropped below the horizon, we waited around, greeting occasional tourists stopping by long enough to snap their ‘we-were-at-the-Sprewell-Bluff-overlook-and-here’s-our-selfie-to-prove-it picture.’
After the ambient light had begun falling off in earnest, we noticed a piece of the western sky was beginning to pink up. With this, my impression was, “i’m not impressed…this isn’t worth setting the gopro back up for a few moments of token color.” As i kept watching, and James kept shooting, the color eventually burst forth over a huge chunk of sky, and so as i’ve done many times before, i rolled my eyes and questioned why i was so foolish as to [yet, again!] not have made the right decision. At this point, all i could do was grab a few shots with the 5D…time was lapsing such that there was no time to resume the time lapse.
The glorious display quickly ebbed into some little lines of color, and we began seeing a bit of heat lightning over the other side of the western ridge. So since the 5D was warmed up and on deck, i decided to finish the evening with a few long exposures to see if any bolts were catchable.
The resulting score for the night was clouds won, king zero. James and i hung around for a while more, but it became clear that the part of the sky we wanted to see…wasn’t going to be.
And so, here is my lame shot from the following night. Venus in the very bottom right corner, dimmer Jupiter is a little ways diagonally toward the moon from Venus, and the (one day older) moon in the upper left. Twenty-four hours can change a spectacular rendezvous into a ‘not-all-that-close encounter of the less exciting kind.’
Still, let there be no question i’m thankful for my Weatherman, and His dominion over all there is. To cite a quote i heard my dad make when i was a kid, “Mankind, despite thousands of years of advancement, still owes his existence to six inches of topsoil and the fact that it rains.”
Grateful for His reign,
king
In the year of our Lord 2015, as spring progressed, i increasingly believed this might be the first in many years there would be no new batches of bluebirds in my tenant housing. For weeks i had seen prospective couples checking out the listings in my yard, but only about three weeks ago did i realize i had some takers.
The happy couple was in a home that had never been occupied. I had assumed it never would be, as the local tree rats took the liberty of remodeling the front door soon after it was built, quite a few seasons back.
But here they were, shuttling food in…and waste out. I eventually was able to see five little beaks, courtesy the squirrelly architecture. This added to my amazement, as three is the most i’ve ever observed in a brood.
Photography began as a serious pursuit in my mid-teens, coinciding with my stint as a disc jockey. In both applications, one learns that timing matters. To photograph the birds as they mature and leave their box would require patience of course, but at an even more obvious level, i would need to be around at the right time…something over which i don’t always have control.
But as the days marched on, it seemed as if the timing might work favorably for getting good imagery. By Memorial Day, when i would be afforded a block of time to watch and wait, the babies were big, and flapping their wings inside the box. The camera was on the porch, the gopro a couple of feet from the box, and i thought the exodus might happen at any moment. Instead, rain happened, and following that, the night. So on Tuesday i was up early in hopes of not missing the event. The morning was spent getting stills and gopro footage and then as noon approached, so did the rain, again.
I saw the shower as opportunity to eat lunch, as there wouldn’t likely be any effort to get the kids out during the downpour. When i came back out, the yard was in an uproar. Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird were raising a racket (which i took to mean they were coaxing their kids to come out). But in addition to the parents, there was a bevy of birds, boisterous as could be: nuthatches, robins, warblers and cardinals. So my second thought was that the bluebird parents were uptight because they wanted their cousins out of the picture (and of my pictures : )
But it took a few moments for me to realize there was something different about the bluebird box…as the garbage truck was coming by, i saw the reason for the ruckus from the residents:
A loop of snake torso bulged out of the formerly safe sanctuary, and after overcoming my shock and dismay, (the anger was not overcome), i got on the stick:
My neighbor, Bob Chatfield, came over and assisted me as we hauled the gopro around to try and get a shot or two of the chicks that made it out alive. In addition to a furious pair of adult bluebirds, most every other bird within a one block radius of my house was close at hand, gawking at the crime scene, and sharing in a sort of wake for the deceased chicks.
For those whose voyeuristic needs must be satisfied, here lies the villain with the two known victims (one internal, one external)
Please don’t take my disdain for what happened as an invitation to lecture me about the roll of reptiles in the ecosystem, or ‘the circle of life.’ I work for a hospice, after all. Some people like coffee, others hate certain sports teams. I believe it within my prerogative to detest snakes and wish they didn’t exist.
The evening in my neighborhood—after yet another rain, provided cool, moist air, a brilliant orange-pink glow in the gray clouds at sunset, and very pronounced, reverberant sounds of adult blue birds, calling to their young. My reading from this morning included the first two chapters from 1st Samuel, which contains poignant reminders of God’s sovereignty. For those who choose to ponder, there are apparent metaphors here for the taking. Effects of sin touch all creation. There will still be bluebirds…and some will still be eaten by snakes, until He determines otherwise.
thankful He is in charge,
king
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Aside from autumn, spring is my favorite season for weather...and the blooms are a bonus. Since i'm in need of a new blog post, the fine flowers favor me with convenient subject matter.
Not that any of these blooms bring the word "weed" to mind, but the tiny blossoms some of these sport remind me of an Allen Levi song. Whatever season in which you find yourself, i wish you joyful growth and a bloomin' good time : )
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"It was a dark and stormy night..." No, in truth it was a nice night. One of those near the equinox that serve as a buffer between nights requiring heat and those that beg for air conditioning. There was low-lying fog with scattered clouds when i awoke and ventured forth.
My aim was to grab an image of the space station as it traversed the sky over Thomaston. My first attempt a few nights before was...not good.
This attempt went better, and God gave me some wonderful atmospheric entertainment all the way past sunrise.
The sun made an appearance, but much of the morning was spent peeking out from behind cover.
Here is the place where--had i anything profound or otherwise useful to say about becoming a 60 year old, i would say it. But instead, we'll try this:
There are little things, like fog
There are big things, such as family and friends
And then there is The Big Thing: Life in and through The Lord Jesus.
It is often said--including by me, but i know no more honest thing to say, "I am blessed...it is all His grace!"
Psalm 139 (in thankful joy : )
king
Used to be, having foggy fotos meant one’s darkroom…wasn’t.
But now that spare time and money…isn’t, i avoid the dark side of photography: (developing and printing).
And so, when God gives fog for free, the proper “thank You!” is to put the leash on the camera and venture forth for a walk.
in joy,
king
Today, “cyber-Monday,” i have refrained from buying anything online. Instead of spending money i can’t spare to buy stuff i don’t need, i’m taking that most precious of commodities, [time], to rake my cyber-space so as to provide you with a collection of leaves for November…(now that it no longer is : )
I believe it more than coincidence the changing of color in leaves works as a good (if imperfect) metaphor. The green is the leaves’ “natural” state. When the sap--it’s life blood, diminishes, and the leaf in essence “dies” to being itself, then some of the more brilliant colors its Maker provided become more visible. The leaf, at least in many cases, becomes more lovely…
in joy,
king
Saturday i was on my way to shoot balloons at The Rock Ranch, and en route, saw a magnificent vista to the right. The dawn’s early light was greeting a low, but dense layer of fog over a clearing. As my custom, i was running late, so alas...had no time to stop and snap.
I made it to my beloved place of business in time to savor a sunrise, but by then, the mist was mostly a mere memory. Alas (again).
And then…the big, beautiful balloons began! (Please pardon if this is politically incorrect, but they were full of hot air : )
As fun as a mass of hot gas can be, i also pondered the fine fog from the first of the day, and thought to my self, “Self, you ought to go back tomorrow morning and see what you can see.”
Tomorrow arrived the very next day (predictably enough), and unpredictably, no morning mist as had so enamored me the previous dawn. Alas (yet again).
Instead, there was a monumental sky with a crescent moon, and clouds extending forever. The 24-105mm was on the camera, and so i cranked it as wide as it would go, and that was of course not wide enough to take in the view. [see image above] Knowing i didn’t have time to fool with changing lenses, i changed to the 16-35mm in hopes i was wrong (which is usually a safe bet : ) [see image below]
Naturally, the 16mm was not wide enough to take in all the fun, so i took time to change to the 14mm in hopes the sky would continue to behave politely in providing pretty, pleasing pictures. [see below]
Not even the 14mm could grasp the entire scene. So the only reasonable conclusion is this is a clear indication i need to find $3,000 to get my name in the pot for the 11-24mm lens Canon is rumored to be bringing out soon : )
While congratulating myself on having such impressive skill with reason and logic, i glanced in the opposite direction and sensed the direction to snap a few fotos in that direction. (On rare occasion, i’ve been known to take direction : )
Those thing-a-ma-hickies along the glide path seem to make pretty good models: they work cheap, stay where they’re told and don’t complain when it’s cold.
And so now for the epilogue…
(You think i’d leave this episode hanging along a glide path with no mist? : )
The following morning, (monday staff meeting not-withstanding : ) i returned to the scene to find my Weatherman playing ‘misty’ for me as He had two days prior. My head was in the clouds! (Or more truthfully, was maybe a foot or two above ; )
in joy,
king
…or to put it more truthfully, i once again have waited to the last moment to do a blog post for the month. With that in mind (and nothing useful to say), i offer these images shot around my house:
(Snacking increases as the weather cools off : )
I am not the only one that enjoys bird watching
Before heading south, this little hummer wanted another drink...(i just don't think its tongue is going to reach that far : )
And no set of autumn images from my house would be complete without squirrely stuff--such as getting in shape for winter with chin-ups
...or making a last-minute dash for another snack while commercials are on
...or trying to see just how much one can retrieve before the commercials are over
Regardless how squirrely things are around here in the fall, there's no place like home : )
I admit, this is a ‘thrown together’ post for the sake of having a post for the month of August. (Which i’m delighted to say, is now over : )
But before it was over, we had a friday…which came with a sunset. Not having to work that weekend, i of course felt obligated to record and share:
For those who like their psychedelic light shows short, here is a moving version:
Sonday also included a sunset, parts of which i missed while traveling to The Rock Ranch. Thus, short stopovers along the road, and near the airport.
Once at The Rock Ranch, i was distracted (as usual : ) by some of the lovely scenes i so often see there:
One got bonus points, as our Creator provided some fireworks in a cloud (thankfully not nearby : )
After playing ‘peek-a-boo’ for well over an hour,
i finally got a clear shot at all three objects during their conjunction: Mars, (lower left), Saturn, (lower right), and Earth’s moon above. (i don’t advise trying to see this on a small screen ; )
All in all, i’d conclude the phrase, “He don’t make ‘em like He used to” doesn’t apply to God’s handiwork in the skies.
in joy,
king
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Several years ago, i used to ask [read: beg] Carman to let me photograph the long, tall drink of water that is her daughter. This year Libby turns into a high school senior, and my opportunity arrived. The caveat? “We need to do this during the end of July.”
For the unenlightened, it has been said that here in Georgia we have two seasons: Summer…and August. Those who know me understand i therefore have two least favorite seasons…
Our window of opportunity was an afternoon/evening, and the following morning. After going over our wish list of ideas and locations, i found myself vacillating about our options, and how to plan our schedule so as to be efficient and best honor the potential. (One might note ‘efficient’ is not a term usually associated with yours truly : )
Friday afternoon came, and after changing the plan as late as that morning, we sweated through a long church session, but The Rainmaker provided a shower to cool us off.
Then came more decision time: spend the evening shooting indoors? Or go to a scenic locale in hopes of a sunset (knowing we could end up with a dud of mere gray clouds…and lots more sweat : )
I chose to go for the sure bet, and so we finished the evening doing the studio shots. Upon leaving for the night, i noticed clear skies overhead, and had the (highly inappropriate) notion that perhaps this was God’s way of telling me i made the wrong choice, and even ‘rubbing my face in it.’
Here is the cue for (my repentance, and for) one to recall the Old Testament passage about ‘joy’ coming in the morning. Knowing we only had a few hours, we had planned to start early. While driving to meet my victim subject, i was reminded there is at least one advantage to having lots of nasty humidity in one’s environs: i was engulfed in fabulous, foggy atmosphere! If only this would last until we could get a shot!!!
Libby and her mom arrived through the fog, and as we took advantage of this way cool gift, i perceived God winking (and possibly even holding His hand over His mouth to hide a holy snicker) as He lovingly chided me for my bad attitude the night before. No amount of money could have bought us such a wonderful setting. To help y’all grasp a sense of His kind provision, take a look at the image below. Aside from being downsized, there is 100% zero post processing. This is the scene straight out of the camera : )
(look at lots of Libby here)
My thanks to Carman and to Libby. And my praise to our Weatherman for
in joy,
king
The weekend presented with a dearth of cute gals or little kids to photograph, so…“Cue the western horizon!”
I knew of the plan to put an observation platform at the Flint River overlook, which is on the road to Sprewell Bluff. But it wasn’t until i went there Friday evening i realized the work is done. There’s even a little house next to it, but i digress…
The new platform should afford improved picture-taking of that marvelous scene—(or at least more enjoyment of the view, should there be one other person on the planet who doesn’t have a telephone for a camera : )
My cameras (which are useless as telephones) climbed out of their bag and went to work, snapping a setting sun from the nice new vantage point. One of them decided that would make a quaint little movie, but unfortunately the operator still has much to learn about keeping a consistent exposure level when shooting time-lapse. For those who can stand the flicker, here’s the flick:
While little brother was occupied with movie-making, the big camera was free to look around and enjoy various sights, such as a rising almost-full [super] moon:
funky clouds with lightning:
funky clouds without lightning:
and the cool funkyness of a moonlit vista—this one including several items of note…
In the shot above, one can see the fog rolling in from the left, the planet Mars (orange dot below the big cloud), and the star Spica slightly down and to the left of Mars. Also just over the horizon in about the center is an area of sky brighter than the rest. This reminds me of a phenomenon called zodiacal light or false dusk:
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-zodiacal-light-or-false-dusk
It is usually seen more often in the spring and fall, about 30 to 60 minutes after sunset. (Of course this may have simply been the city of Manchester, polluting my night sky : )
For folks with large, bright monitors, here’s a portrait of the big dipper:
The handle is on top, going to the left, and the cup part is at the bottom, facing diagonally up and to the right. As can be seen in the photo, the star in the middle of the handle is a binary (double) star. I’ve been told that in ages past, the Indians used that as a means of testing their children’s eyesight—by having them look at the middle star and telling the parent how many lights they could see. (No fair for any who try this now, you already know what to look for : )
I didn’t think to get a nice picture of the observation deck while it was light, so above is a simple shot of one corner as one is looking east, toward the rising moon.
see sweet sky shots here
So whether by sunshine or the light of the moon, i’ve observed the observation platform to perform well. My thanks to those who provided it, and to the One Who provided the creation to be observed.
king
If the question is, “do daylilies like loving looks?” i believe—(as the duly [self] appointed spokesman for fine flowers), the answer is “Yes.” They all smiled beautifully as members of the local daylily organization allowed me to roam about, snapping shots at their annual show. My thanks to them, and to the local Masonic Hall for providing us a blooming good environment.
(link to lots more luscious lilies)
in joy,
king
Last time i spent time with Laura, we were in Mrs. Doris Watson’s journalism class in high school. She recently invited my camera to visit the family place west of town, and i was allowed to tag along.
The weather was wonderful. The timing worked well for watching wildflowers, mountain laurel and native azaleas—which were pretty in pink.
The water was wet—whereas we went woods wandering, wondering about worn wood and wide holes.
If you need a more thorough look, click this link for a plethora of photos.
I’m thankful for a delightful creation…for good stewardship of it, and for the opportunity to report on it. My appreciation to Laura, Nina, Andrew and Banks for putting up with me. They helped make it a picture-perfect day : )
in joy,
king
Through 45 years of picture-taking, i’ve come to believe nothing trumps dumb luck…
…except an infinite, gracious Creator/Redeemer, Who delights in blessing His kids with reminders of His glory.
To me today’s reading from George MacDonald’s ‘Diary’ is fitting tribute to this gift:
“That all things Thou dost fill, I well may think—
Thy power doth reach me in so many ways.
Thou Who in one the universe dost bind,
Passest through all the channels of my mind;
The sun of thought, across the farthest brink
Of consciousness Thou sendest me Thy rays;
Nor drawest them in when lost in sleep I sink.”
in joy,
king
Crew was observed flying in this morning to resume work on the residence outside the guest room window. Construction had halted on 31 March due to (an un-named neighbor : ) having people come spend the day digging up the stumps in his back yard.
When interviewed about the prospect of raising another family, Mrs. B. Bird was asked if she had a preference for having boys or…chicks. She replied she merely hoped they would be healthy, and sufficiently protected from ‘that whacko King Davis and his pesky camera.’ The person in question was reached for comment regarding her remark, and simply stated, ‘It’s a dirty job, but God is gracious and provides according to the need.’
For some time i've wanted to try this shot: a young dancer, leaping between rows of planted pine. Lilli-Anne obliged me, and i think she reached new heights : )
We did try some other things, hoping to make use of (her wonderful hair, and) the sun before it went to bed.
At its appointed time though, the sun did just that...
but not before i was allowed a quick wink "good night." Thanks to Lilli-Anne and Jessica, and to Kenny for supplying a long hoped-for 'forest.'
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I’m not young, so snowboarding isn’t in my repertoire. If the song is correct, i can’t build a snowman, as i don’t have a meadow. And though one of my neighbors came by and totally nailed me with a snowball, i purposed projectile proliferation wouldn’t be proper…(or prudent—she had the drop on me : )
Snow what, then? Why, snow birds! Those little flying pigs that have been eating me out of many dollar’s worth of seed for the last several weeks. They seem to be well aware of the need for extra Calories when the weather is cool.
Here are some shots from today’s snowy shenanigans. If you’d like to see more, click this word and you’ll have more birds than you can throw a snowball at.
Matthew 10:31,
king
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Having been preoccupied the last few months, i decided to pull down a can of spare time and be reminded how it tastes. And what better way to do that than standing on a windy hilltop in 22 degree pre-dawn air? Yes, it’s perfectly in keeping with my insanity, but before tossing the first stone, do think about the ‘sensibility’ of those crazed masses who spent their ‘black’ days and nights looking for bargain deals. Here’re some of the deals i was privileged to find:
That’s what i call a bargain. Cost for me was a few moments of numb hands, but no sales tax was added. For those with eyes to see, planets Mercury and (higher up) Saturn are poised for the start of black Friday. In the close up below, they can be seen joined by the star Spica, a 'blue giant,' which is just barely in the shot at the top near the right:
In the shot above, Spica is below and to the left of the crescent moon.
A few more out-of-this-world bargains images can be found by looking here.
Isaiah 48:12-13,
king
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There are a number of would-be blogs in various degrees of existence, but the last several weeks have yielded little time to pursue perfecting for posting. (Admittedly the term “perfect” has no place in anything to do with yours truly, but i wanted a word starting with the letter p, and “polishing” didn’t possess proper punch, if you please : )
Seeing i’ve been over a month without posting, (and will be a while before having time to finish any of the posts-in-progress), i took a few minutes to step out onto the driveway and shoot the two things readily available (aside from the obvious one big thing : )
An American Beauty Berry bush took up residence some years ago, sprouting out of one of the old railroad ties that border the drive. I’m grateful to Harolyn Castleberry for alerting me to the photo-op they provide about this time every year: those berries turning from green to…(if you’ll pardon the expression), deep purple. It’s such a rich color i have an urge to shoot them every time i make a trip to or from the car.
Even insects admire the berries’ beauty…(bunches more berries be here)
This cat is one of many around the neighborhood, and one of a few that venture onto my grounds—ostensibly to enjoy bird-watching from the porch by the kitchen. But unlike all the others, this one pretends to like me. The only trick she’s managed to teach me so far is to rub her behind the ears, which—for an old dog such as myself, may be about as complicated a bit of learning as is manageable : )
(cute cats collected here)
As for the other blogs-to-be, i suspect it will be a while yet…perhaps the cat got my tongue ; )
be blessed,
king
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A few churches around town share a desire to offer breakfast to anyone who comes through the door. Thomaston First United Methodist has the third Saturday in the month, and my camera made itself at home in the kitchen:
(What’s amazing is i didn’t see any major spills despite how incredibly fast everyone seemed to move : )
If you find yourself in the neighborhood on our day between eight and ten in the morning, please come (hungry). And if you know of someone who can’t or wouldn’t show up, we’d be honored for you to come get them a take-out.
ciao chow!
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Once upon a time, there was a beautiful young lady, and a guy who liked to take pictures. A couple years after high school, the boy found the courage to ask her about a photo shoot. Tanna graciously agreed, and showed up with her five year old sister, Shannon.
They headed west in his German sports car, and met up with his friend in his British sports car. The two guys took turns photographing the two gals using a pair of [state-of-the-art] Nikon F2s’s. Being a five year old, Shannon had some antsy moments. To deal with that, i (the boy in our story) turned my camera an odd angle so as to distract her. In response, she turned her head the opposite angle, and thus began our game of head-turning which led to images like this one, using the sky as a high-key background:
Fast forward a few decades. Shannon and Steven now have two precious girls. To my delight, Shannon got in touch and said she’d like to re-create such a shoot for her daughters while they’re visiting here. We spent two fun mornings exploring neat places around Thomaston, and so i now have yet more confirmation i’m getting old : )
(see simply scads of sweet sister shots here)
My gratitude to Tanna, John H. Davis, Steven, Katherine, Elise, Brannon, the Weatherfords and Ellerbees…and to Shannon. Thanks for bringing me full circle : )
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[Note: due to the lame limitations of this web host, i wasn’t able to upload the video in its entirety. So after an extra couple hours of deprived sleep, i’ve posted the first half. For those who take their fireworks seriously, i will try to upload the remaining seven minutes of fun…soon. Or if not soon, then later.] And for those who don’t fathom the concept of “later,” a recap of last year’s party can be found here.
in joy (and giving thanks),
king
So now, for fanatical fireworks fans, the wait is over. Here is the second half of the show:
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We interrupt this blog for a special post. The regularly scheduled blog, “Getting Mooned on the Flint,” (already behind schedule), will be delayed a bit more. So as unemployed comedians the world over are fond of saying, “Wait for it.”
Some 40 years after high school, a bunch of folks decided to get together to see who has gained the most weight. Neighboring classes were invited so as to make for an efficient and even more fun gathering. The Bickley’s provided a lake and bar-b-que, a cool band from Atlanta provided some sweet sounds, and God provided a light show after dark.
‘Twas wonderful to see so many people, a number of whom i haven’t seen in 4 decades. I wasn’t able to snap a class picture, but i suspect most folks who know me would agree i never had much class anyway. Just the same, my thanks to all who took the time to show up, and especially to those who worked to make it happen.
God continue to bless you all,
king
I was told it would be okay for me to annoy accompany the youth Saturday at Sprewell Bluff. This would be the first trek for the GoPro, and i didn’t know if it would be up for it—since we haven’t started its conditioning program yet.
As it turned out, suspicions were correct. The camera pooped out before i did, which certainly isn’t saying much for the camera. (or moi : )
Never-the-less, it was a glorious day to be out enjoying God’s handiwork, and the company of some wonderful people—several of whom helped make the little flick below. (Perhaps they were hoping i pay union scale ; ) Should anyone need to ask, then the answer would be “Yes.” The movie accurately depicts how fast we were moving ; )
By the end of the day, i couldn’t resist the call of the water. Not that i have much reason to be in water, but i’ve never before had a camera that was Baptist, so i took the opportunity to do something i’ve never done: deliberately put a camera in water. Here then, is the first experience with The Underwater World of Yours Truly. And though admittedly the footage is quite underwhelming, please realize the water is murky, and this is merely (ahem) sticking my toe in for now.
in joy,
Coming next: getting mooned at the river. (Looking forward to those photos? : )
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3 days ∙ 1 river ∙ 3 blog posts
We’ll go in reverse order. Sonday evening was my last before 11 in a row on call, so to make good use of the glorious weather, i went to the overlook on our stretch of the Flint to—well, have a look over:
I tend to enjoy sunsets, and find it rather nice God designed spinning spheres like earth so as to always have a sunset (somewhere) at every moment. The one from the Flint overlook was lovely, and served as a good prelude to a celestial treat: a conjunction of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury. In the family portraits below, look for the near-isosceles triangle of white dots. Venus appears on the bottom. Jupiter is above and to the left, and little Mercury is highest and to the right:
Venus and Jupiter should appear closest on Tuesday (May 28th). Look in the western sky a bit after sunset. By then, Venus will be slightly higher and to the right of Jupiter, with Mercury well above them. Just remember to treat your sunset well, since soon as you’re done with it, folks somewhere else get to have it.
The previously promised “once around the block” will happen (God willing), but is deferred for now until the other two river posts have their chance to sink or swim.
Next up: river walk (Eat your heart out, Columbus…Macon…Augusta…San Antonio : )
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My camera was hungry the other day. Fortunately, it found a feast.
before:
after:
Sometimes, being neat, clean and proper just isn’t fully satisfying…
…and then there’s the satisfaction of cleaning up after a job well done : )
(more fun fotos of fabulous food fight found here)
My thanks to Jason and all the fine folks of First Methodist for fulfilling the command, “…freely you received, freely give.”
(still) coming soon: a once around the block...
in joy,
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Batch number one of bluebird babies bade “bye-bye” to their box and are winging it. In honor of my sister on her birthday, watch it happen here: (note the middle child requires extensive coaxing/instruction : )
And in honor of Diana’s favorite son’s birthday, here’s (appropriately enough) a selection of some snacking sequences from times prior to the chicks’ departure:
(Note that—as with Bill, food is always welcome : )
Coming soon: a once around the block...
Be blessed,
king
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It began with a sunrise:
(For any who share my addiction, here is another sunrise from two days later, when i searched in vain for Lyrid meteors.)
Back home, i set out my first two tiny tomato things. I’ve never done well with big sandwich varieties, so this year i plan to grow just romas, and rely on the local produce people like Shane and The Rock Ranch for the large, pretty ones.
While ripping up mint to make room for tomatoes, weird stuff happened behind me at the edge of the yard. There was a pair of these birds [identity, please!]
squawking madly and checking out bird houses—including the one currently occupied by this year’s first batch of blue bird babies.
This clued me in on the possibility some action might be in store, so i peeked out the window a time or two over the next few hours between breaks from a webinar by photographer Sal Cincotta.
I wasn’t able to catch any of the dog bird fights that ensued, but if violence is desired, take a gander (or some other bird) as to what it’s like to be a stool pigeon on daddy bluebird’s radar:
To finish the day, i met with Emma and Bo to re-visit the field of red clover. My new camera is a year old now, and as such—it seems to think it can do for itself. I get a little annoyed when they start acting that way: “Let me do it…I can take this picture…Stop helping me!” On and on it goes. I sometimes say, “You’re a camera—you don’t even have opposable thumbs, much less fingers with which to aim yourself or snap the picture.” (But I don’t think it can grasp that : )
Bird epilogue: i was delighted to happen upon a recent post by one of my photographic heroes, David Hobby, who blogs about off-camera lighting. This one contains a couple of spectacular shots of his recent bluebird adventure. You're cordially invited to view more of my bluebird images here.
in joy,
king
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Thanks to Robin for volunteering Elizabeth, who graciously donated two of her kids in response to my need for props in a field of blooming clover.
Red clover, red clover…why so many pictures?
They bee fun!
in joy,
king
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bees busier buzzing – so much pollen…so little time
blue bird box bulging – mom’s doin’ take-out
blue jay babies – mom’s sittin’ on ‘em
buds be blooming – flower power via The Higher Power
cheerful cherries – Mr. Ellerbee always has a good garden, but i don’t know if he can take credit for the lovely tree
hummer homecoming – happy to have them here
Dateline April 7, this year: The first two hummer scouts have been spotted inspecting my (at that time, empty) feeder. They appear slightly displeased. Must. Fill. Nectar. Now.
possessions plastered with pollen – got me covered
*some say six signs, since perhaps pollen is perceived un-pleasant…(but from whence would we bee without it?)
in joy,
king
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The ball of ice and dust known as Comet PanSTARRS, as seen from Thomaston, Georgia the evening of March 12, 2013.
in joy,
king
...and (despite popular request), the photoshopped version:
Having exhausted good options for March, the local Shutterbug Club has invited me to present the program for this month. This led to a need for some material to go with my topic. So to shoot a few bits of video, i called on some friends who were thrilled willing to whack each other on a sunny, but cold afternoon.
Some folks just seem to get more static than others:
On an unrelated note, for the 6,999,999,997 of you who won’t be attending my presentation, comet Pan-STARRS may be visible above the western horizon near the crescent moon the evening of March 12 and/or 13. (“Check your local listings.”) A good pair of binoculars will likely be helpful. Those interested can read about it here, or if you’re waiting for the movie, check out NASA’s flick here.
in joy,
king
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The cross atop the 200 year old chapel seemed a fitting target through which to shoot the north star—the point from Earth’s northern hemisphere around which all the heavens seem to revolve. If in the game of timelapse close counts, then this half night counted, despite the stars’ hide-and-seek play with the clouds. It had been a wonderful winter’s day: myriads of marvelous camellia blooms at Massee Lane Gardens, a delightful drive through unexplored places, and a fabulously fun concert by Allen Levi and friends at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. This opportunity to shoot the chapel had been long hoped for, and was an excellent end to a glorious day. [A dark environment should enhance viewing of the video.]
For those whose curiosity causes a conclusion that not all coincidences are merely that, i would point out Polaris wasn’t always our “pole star.” Because of the “wobble” of Earth’s axis, Thuban in the constellation Draco, (the dragon), was the pole star at about the time of the fall (Genesis 3). But during the last several centuries, that role has been played by the end of the handle of the little dipper—described in ancient folklore as The Lesser Sheepfold, a reference to Abraham and his descendents. It seems fitting that in roughly 12 thousand years, the first-magnitude star Vega will be the pole star. It is the principal component in the constellation Lyra, the harp (an instrument of praise : )
It’s a rather cool progression, and perhaps another validation David’s assertion in Psalm 19 is not only fascinating, but literal. If the heavens are telling…i pray we’re listening.
May we all be good listeners...and have a blessed St. Valentine’s day,
king
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The folks at Massee Lane Gardens offered me an opportunity to return and yak some more about flower photography as part of their annual Festival of Camellias. So for any who are in the neighborhood (of Fort Valley) Saturday afternoon, February 9th, consider this your invite to come heckle yours truly.
The presentation is primarily for beginning and intermediate photographers, but any warm body willing to behave is welcome. (Contrary to report, there is no registration deadline, and the instructor will keep puns to a minimum.)
The gardens open at 10am. My gig starts at 1pm, and should go about two hours. That should allow a good hour and a half following class to “apply learning” in the gardens. The only fee involved is admission to the gardens, which is $5.00 for adults (or $4.00 if you’re as old as me), and kids under 12 are free. (Okay…we know kids aren’t free—but you don’t have to pay for them to get in at Massee Lane, headquarters of the American Camellia Society.)
So in recognition of Ground Hog Day, or because i’m gathering visual aides, here’s a peek at some of my homework.
in joy,
king
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An afternoon absent of an annoying phone arrived early in the year. With it, blue sky and mild temperature, and a total lack of any good excuse to further delay trying out the motion-control slider purchased months earlier. (Like much else on the planet, it arrived with a learning curve : )
Still a long way from attaining the holy grail of timelapse shooting, (that being smooth transitions from light to dark—and vice versa), I set up shop at the church’s front porch to follow the afternoon’s progress. My reasons for that location included 1) proximity to home, B) good view of the southwestern sky, and iii) a sentimentality for subject matter of times past. Regarding the last item, here is a digitized reproduction of one of the few prints I still have from my teenage photography years in the ‘60’s. (Nine-teen sixties.) Note the use of sepia-tone (before it became "new" again : )
So the first time out with this new gizmo proved a fabulous avoidance of complete failure, though the afore-mentioned transitioning still challenges me. The location required using the 16-35 at the short end of its range, which made for fairly funky perspective, but at least the camera moved in the correct direction, and at about the right speed. The next big challenge will be doing this at night with no light around. [reader advised to not hold one’s breath]
As a bonus, (which is kind of like saying, “We can slash your tires
Thanks to bro Herb for his taking joy in my taking joy in God’s taking joy in His creation. I’m looking forward to our hike : ) See some stupendous sunset scenes stashed here.
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I know, the version coined by The Almighty is infinitely more impressive…and thankfully so. But still i’m glad the folks at The Rock Ranch are of such a mind and heart as to do what they can to remind us that Light came into this world, and the darkness does not overcome it—no matter how dark it may seem.
For all the fancy gear, photography still boils down to light. For all its complexities, life still depends on light, and likewise Life depends on Light—The Light which shines in the darkness. His name is Jesus. Light can blind, or show the way…i pray for all of us, we (by His grace) choose the latter, for His glory (and for our joy).
…a blessed Christmas to all,
king
lots of lovely lights live here
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My dear friend, Mrs. Johnnie, said, “I’m going to take pictures of Rebecca at Sprewell Bluff Wednesday, would you like to come along?”
And did i really need the entire nanosecond to contemplate such an opportunity?
1) my favorite time of year
B) a lovely young lady to shoot
iii) being with friends in a beautiful, natural setting
Nah…just twist my arm and consider me there!
To my delight, Rebecca has grown since Johnnie’s first invite to shoot her friend a while back. From this:
to this:
(For those who lack a “Y” chromosome, this gal has made a change for the better : )
So here’s how the day went: Johnnie takes a few shots of Rebecca, then says, “Okay King, she’s yours for a little while.” King and Rebecca then wander off and take a few million shots. Rinse. Repeat…etc.
Johnnie as always was gracious and didn’t point out that i was trying to hug hog the model. For her part, Rebecca was polite enough to tolerate my dumb jokes, and an incessant clicking noise. The clip below shows i couldn’t leaf her alone:
(a few seconds of fun : )
Not only is this how i define fun, but God also smiled on our weather. The first half was heavy overcast, and the remaining 2/5ths was sunny. (I’ve always excelled at math.)
Such a combination provided for all my needs. The clouds being my preference, since that eliminates eons of photoshop time finessing harsh shadows, and then the sunlight made Rebecca’s new improved hair glow like crazy.
And just to make this a legitimate “nature shoot,” a blue heron blessed us with a brief visit, and permission from his Agent to appear in our shoot.
As the day wound on and we did contend with harsh shadows, it was time to see just how good our model was. The shot below isn’t one picture, it’s six pictures combined to make one. This was my attempt to emulate the best film ever made, Kodachrome II. (Alas Paul Simon…mama did take it away.) Rebecca had to be perfectly still while the camera snapped six times. The small size of this image doesn’t do justice to how well she did, there’s not so much as an eyelash moved from one image to the next.
reams of rad Rebecca renderings reside here
So for this post, Rebecca rules…and my thanks to her and Johnnie for letting me crash their party : )
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My friends at The Rock Ranch held their annual “Pumpkin Destruction Day,” which afforded me the opportunity to try a video trick i’ve been wanting to learn: slo-mo. Below is my synopsis of the smashing time.
Plenty of pumpkin pulverizing presides at this place
grateful i’m not a gourd,
king
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Stopping by Shane’s produce stand for my quasi-weekly supply of corn and tomatoes, I noticed a new audience silently observing my purchase. It seems Shane shares his skill in putting paint on pumpkins so as to gratify bored gourd groupies. For any who need to know, he’s on the left side of North Center Street, about a half block before rejoining North Church.
in joy,
king
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With the last vestiges of summer come the first opportunities to enjoy the autumn. This post begins what i intend to be an ongoing effort to take a closer look at the environs…including Mr. Garner’s garden just down the street.
in joy,
king
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A long time ago, in this very galaxy, my dear friend Allen Levi wrote or mentioned that his mom on occasion would phone him near the end of the day and tell him to look at the sky. What I never mentioned to Allen or Mrs. Hilda was, she is not the only one who had such a habit. The last several years of her life, my mom would call me with the same message, or the question, “Have you looked out the window?”
Of all the subject matter I enjoy shooting…(and that would be a lot of people/things), the sky has always been one of my favorites.
I mean, for most of us, a portion of the sky is readily available. It photographs well, doesn’t complain it’s too busy for a picture, and i never have to beg for a model release. It’s as if God says, “Until I put you someplace better, here’s another something to enjoy while on earth.”
Though not in the least a fan of summer weather, i confess the extremes of heat and humidity have the potential to make for some relatively cool imagery.
...and here it is in motion:
scads of sweet sky scenes stay here
So is there a downside to being an airhead? I suppose that, (unless one lives in southern Arizona or some other place where they don’t have weather), it could be frustrating to think there is always another sunset or rainbow to chase. But not for me…i’m merely happily overwhelmed.
Psalm 97,
king
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We know their stats are impressive. Among the smallest of birds, they go instantly from 0 to nearly 100 wing flaps per second. They’re the only bird capable of flying backwards. And they can decrease their metabolism to 1/15th of normal to conserve energy when food is scarce.
But put away the paper, and ponder the poetry. If you’ve never simply sat and studied the dances and dogfights, and delighted in the drone of their darting to and fro…this is yet another thing you should add to your bucket list.
Many have helped me enjoy the hunt for hummers. Most recently, Allen and Anna Mary, whose back yard beckons the beaks of bunches of birds—including hoards of hummers. (Their web work is quite wonderful, too. You can enjoy Anna Mary’s here.)
There came a morning in the not too distant past when i didn’t have to: teach Sonday school, do audio, sing in the choir, or take call. So it was the perfect day to go have church with hummers. Let’s all stand and sing number 150 in the Him Book…
Praise the Lord!
king
(have hundreds of happy hummers hangin’ out here)
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The fodder for this outburst has to do with the seemingly rampant abuses of king’s english. (As opposed to "the king's' English.")
You see, in my english, the word “literally” literally means, uhm…literally. In the last many months, I must have heard literally billions of instances in which the word “literally” was used when in fact the thing discussed was not literal. Ahem…
No doubt many who know and correctly use the king’s' English have addressed this matter far more properly and eloquently than I, but the humming birds aren’t ready for prime time, so this is my post for the day, (this week : )
If I could impose my will upon humanity, near the bottom of my edict in the “Oh, and by the way…” section, there would be prohibitions on the use of the nonsensical verbiage that seems to be prevalent in popular culture’s conversations. Such as:
The words actually and basically may not be used when speaking to someone.
The word like may be used as a verb, but not as an adjective.
Ending a sentence with “...REALLY?” is not acceptable as a rhetorical question.
The term awesome is best left to refer to the one Who truly is.
All persons would have to take this rant literally : )
Stay blessed,
king
And God willing, coming in September…skyscapes
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These pictures and clips come compliments the recent fourth of July celebration at The Rock Ranch. (Which, for the record, is observed annually the last Saturday in June : )
Following is a clip recapping the hot time had by all:
For those in need of more pyrotechnics, here's a clip of the evening's finale:
in joy,
king
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It’s called “Silver Dreams” by DeeDee and Tom. It’s the kind of place that could bring out the animal in me, but that would likely go unnoticed, since there are so many others already in residence.
That was my invite, to come visit this animal kingdom. Set on a beautiful piece of the county, it’s easy to understand the “Dreams” part of the name. “Silver” has to do with the three horses in the northwest pasture. Their breed hails from Peru, which in addition to these noble beasts, is know for its silver. The palomino's name is Oro, the red (chestnut) colored one is Fabio, and the strawberry roan is Dream.
Peru is also home to llamas, but not to the trio of Mulligan, Knight and Wizard. They hang out in the area between the horses and the Belted Galloway cattle, (aka “oreo” cows : ) The head llama is Mulligan. With his lush white neck, he’s the one that looks most like a child’s oversized stuffed critter. The black one is Knight, and the brown one’s name is Wizard.
Keeping guard over the place is a cadre of cute cats. The majestic “ragdoll” is named Sunny, and his temperament is like sunshine on a chilly day.
The names of the other cats and all the cattle I can’t begin to recall, but Tom and DeeDee love and care for them all. It was a delight to shoot such fabulous furry friends. I'm a better...animal for having met them.
Close encounter of the cow kind...leaving me totally unable to focus.
stay blessed,
king
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A dear former pastor who’s now with the Lord used to say in some of his sermons, “If you’re ever having a problem with pride, just go outside some clear night and look up for five minutes.”
I’ve had to wait for clear nights, and clear schedules, but this past weekend provided opportunity for dealing with that problem—and for my first real night out with the new toy tool. My gracious friends at The Rock Ranch have some very nice night sky, and i spent the first of what i hope to be many episodes enjoying the reminder of the Psalmist, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God…”
The first night timelapse with the new camera was about a 6-hour span which included the rising of constellation Scorpius and following its path up and then over to the right behind the windmill. Its head includes three bright stars diagonally across in nearly a straight line, and then down at its heart is the red giant, Antares. (It's the big orangish dot that's just to the left of the center in the image above.) The funky cloud which follows after the scorpion is composed of non-luminous matter that partially obscures the stars behind. It is situated very near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. For those who watch without falling asleep, you’ll notice I did a couple of times, as evidenced by some occasions of condensation buildup on the lens. (Alas…i’ll be in “learning mode” for quite some time!) Viewer advisement: dark environment and fast internet connection help : )
Filling the role of the brilliant starlet in our second feature is the planet Venus. She plays hide and seek from behind the windmill, only to disappear beyond the trees and over the horizon. For those who like true stars, though, the twins of Gemini are also in the process of setting. The heads (Castor and Pollux) start out just to the left of the top of the windmill. This shoot didn’t go late into the night, so thankfully no condensation to fog the view : )
“When i consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?”
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In keeping with their name, these plants were pleased with God’s rain, which came in abundance last week.
be blessed,
king
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Mrs. Kay Hightower told me the Shoals Spider Lilies are indigenous to only about six counties in the USA. Once a year, the Son beckons His blooms to beautify the boundary between a couple of those counties, and they shimmer in the sunshine for a short span.
Thanks to Pam & Fred, my camera was lavished with lovely lilies. “Not even Solomon…”
Thanks to Allen Levi for use of his music. Enjoy more of his talent here.
More Flint fotos here.
in joy,
king
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Hotly anticipated software is arrived, loaded and working (PTL!). In celebration of which, i offer some images from our WCG Shutterbug field trip to the UGA Extension Garden in Griffin April 12th.
in joy,
king
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1) Being a male, no fair peeking at the instruction manual (i broke this rule once at the end of the night : )
2) Just JPEGs. It may be quite a while before i have software that can open the RAW files, so everything you see started as a junky jpeg and stayed that way. Eeeew! (teenage girls are welcome to correct my spelling if need be)
3) Though i did crop and/or make some other slight adjustments, there is no sharpening or noise reduction added by me—only whatever Canon uses for the in-camera default
4) All shots taken with the 16-35mm. NOT exactly the most flattering lens for humans
5) Due to item #1, yours truly was clueless as to how to activate the fancy, highly-touted zillion-point autofocus deal, and so all focusing was with single center-point autofocus only. (I did have the presence of mind on a few shots to do a “hold focus” and then recompose.)
6) No flash...available light only. White balance was just camera default.
7) Tried to keep ISO within a range between “my 7D could never do that,” and “even a new 5D3 couldn’t do that.” Try and find some noise in the images below…go ahead : )
My very first subject…no yoke. ISO 1250 (My 7D could easily do this, but from here on, forget it!)
ISO 2500. I’ve shot a few on the 7D at this setting, but they didn’t look like pictures.
ISO 5000 And speaking of serendipity...mom & dad just happened to have Ava Claire come dressed in the official Canon color test dress! Due to some incandescent lighting, we do see more yellow than needed, but where it’s mostly window light, i think color is pretty good (this from a guy who has nominal male colorblindness).
ISO 5000 "Look ma, no teeth hands."
ISO 5000
ISO 12,500
ISO 16,000
The following three images were shot with the “in-camera HDR mode,” for which i had to query the instruction manual in order to navigate through the (5D3’s more abundant) menu options. (This will likely become one of my uses for one of those “custom” camera settings one can configure.)
ISO 16,000
ISO 16,000 Note the planet Venus above and to the right of the steeple. The sky at this point looks bad, but i don't know to what extent this is from the in-camera HDR processing versus noise versus jpeg artifacting.
ISO 5,000
One can see the bright star, Sirius on the left, the constellation Orion in the left center, the star Aldebaran in Tarus in the right center, and the planet Venus on the right, with The Pleiades just below it and to the right. This is not an HDR image, just a few seconds’ single exposure at ISO 3200. Note that what appears to be a comet is low in the center of the image, to the left of the steeple. I understand there was mention of a comet earlier this year, but wasn’t aware it was still visible. (I didn’t see it until after getting home and looking at the images on the screen. It’s definitely not aircraft, as it appears in several shots.)
wishing you a Good Friday,
king
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By His grace, some three years and two generations later, i now have a 5D. Twice the resolution of the original, several stops improvement in signal-to-noise [read: can near-‘bout shoot in the dark], and spectacular HD video capability. That's the billing, at least. Time will tell if it's hype. A comment in Jeff Ascough's review gives one such as me sobering food for thought, "So are there any negatives to owning this camera? Maybe just one. You will lose the ability to blame the camera for any shortcomings in your own photographic ability.”
Pictures? Not yet. I will be spending a little time playing with the new toy tool, and working toward updating my software…none of which can yet open the RAW files from the new camera. (RAW files are unique to a specific camera model, and this model is brand new.)
Grateful and glad,
king
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(a thought about Easter)
I’ve never been a fan of change—unless it is clearly for the better. The second law of thermodynamics reminds us all change comes with a price (please pardon the paraphrase).
To transform from lowly caterpillar to adult butterfly, bugs go through a pupa stage (chrysalis), and have to hang around until they get their wings. It’s only after enduring the first three phases of its life that a butterfly becomes the beautiful, beguiling bug we wistfully watch.
For those in His collection, the metamorphosing from natural-born sinners to sinners saved by grace entailed an incalculable price. But it is clearly a change for the better. And thankfully…Someone else picked up the tab.
in joy,
king
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This brief respite brought to you by the One Who clothed the lilies of the field, (and the irises of my yard).
in joy,
king
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School can imitate life. Some lessons are purely intellectual, entailing nothing more than stockpiling information. Others include “labs,” in which one is to observe/make application of information learned. (Hopefully without creating a reddish-brown cloud of bromine gas sufficient to clear a certain organic lab…but ‘nuff said about that : )
In my recently acquired interest in time-lapse photography, i’ve been lovingly lent a learning lab of sorts. Timberlake is within easy driving distance from my bed house. So even with the early start time of class, little time lapses before letting time lapse.
Thankfully time lapsed doesn’t have to be time wasted. While waiting for the camera to click a few gazillion hundred times, Timberlake offers not only timber and a lake, but flora and fauna to fotograph for fun. Of particular note during my latest lesson was the way water works to refract and reflect light. For any unaware, light is relatively important for photography. (Relatively as in: photography minus light equals zero.)
So here are some images from Timberlake. Another session confirming my belief that God does some of His best work in watercolor.
In joy,
king
I thought about simply “The Color Purple,” but that title’s been taken. Having survived a first attempt at a blog, i wanted to try a quick repeat performance to see if happy lightning can strike twice in the same virtual place. After all, just because something worked once doesn’t mean it will ever work again. (In school i studied both Newton and Murphy. In the years since, i’ve concluded Murphy’s laws are at least as relevant as Newton’s.)
So the story here is there is no story--just purple...or in the case of the Japanese magnolia, formerly purple. Thanks to one night of below freezing temps, the tulip tree’s purple blooms are now brown. Normally they bloom in mid-February, but this year they came a few days early, and lasted a bit longer before the bitter end. I was grateful my good friend Grace gladly graced the blooms with her presence the evening before they caught cold.
The petite purple plants are puzzling. They popped up from a planter in proximity to my porch. One day last week while i was home, the macro lens expressed the desire to get out, so we chose the exotic locale of the front yard and visited the pretty purple things. Hope you enjoy!
Be blessed,
king
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For here i sit in front of a 19 inch monitor, making my first effort to...blog. I had thought for a few years i would someday get around to this. Thanks to this zen-derful web site providing the means, the time has come. So—instead of just images, welcome to words! Allow me to begin with these: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
That, is good news. Perhaps the best verse in perhaps the best letter in undoubtably the best book ever written. For those who trust the trustworthiness of its Author, it refers to the best (and only real) Life there is to be had. And I pray you have it. But why this message, and why from me…on this—blog thing? Because the images i share may or may not be worth a thousand words, but a few actual words are in order to make sure you get the picture. (Ahem...did it click?)
When i began pursuing photography in 1969, i was not a believer, though i did believe in God. I believed the way to be okay with God was to be good enough (through one's own efforts) to win and maintain His approval. This deviation from what the Bible teaches got corrected in my life by His grace in 1974. But even prior to my believing in a just God Who meted out justice on His Son for my justification, i believed in a Creator God Who made the heavens and the earth, and proclaimed it “good.” Accordingly, my efforts at photography have always been motivated by a desire to enjoy (and brag on) our creative Creator, Who provides us with information and instruction:
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…” Romans 1:20
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.” Psalm 33:6-8
- The information: God made and rules everything.
- The instruction: Be impressed.
Or as Psalm 118:24 sums it, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Thus, before finding images and ideas to share with whatever throngs [ha!] may be bored enough to bear this blog, bear this underlying fact in mind: my mindset is to study and show some of the stuff our God gives for His glory, and for our joy. (Thanks for that last bit, Dr. Piper ; ) To quote the Creator, “Great are the works of the Lord; they are studied by all who delight in them. Splendid and majestic is His work; and His righteousness endures forever.” (Psalm 111:2-3)
So thanks for enduring my initial effort. I don’t know that there will be many efforts, but i do know i don't plan to spell out my motivation from here on. Hopefully God will bless the images of His handiwork to His glory such that they say most all that’s needed, (and I merely supply some silly puns : )
In joy,
king
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