Nature's Detour

I took off in my old Jeep yesterday morning, before it got too hot, and just enjoyed the ride down South Pike road to Courtland, Alabama. Headed from there to Spring Creek and arrived at one of my favorite "haunts" - the lane to lock A (specifically, Lawrence County Park). Just past the old masonry gates, this was what halted me from any further venture down this road. I noticed the old tree had split; having grown in a "V", this is only half of it. So, I snapped a few shots of it for the record, then proceeded on down to Mallard Creek, and then to Hillsboro. The high for yesterday was 102º, the high for today is expected to be 107º. Checking the records, incidentally, the record high for yesterday's date was 108º in 1931 and the low was 40º in 1894.

Baby's Got New Shoes!

Finally broke down and had to get some new treads for the old CJ7. A lot smoother and quieter ride, for sure. We didn't go with all-terrain, since we never go muddin' or rock climbing; she's strictly for the road. Kinda like a thoroughbred; her performing and racing days are over and has been put to pasture, but she is a winner and still looks good in her golden years.

All About The Light

This is a self-portrait to show how lighting affects a shot. A DIY softbox with one Canon 430EX speedlite on a tripod was placed at 45º, camera-right. The speedlite was manually set to half-power. I have several old halogen work lights, some double, some single. One of the single ones was used up close, camera left. Camera was a Canon EOS 7D to trip the 430EX, with it's own flash turned off and self-timer set to 10 secs. The settings were as follows:  shutter speed - 1/80 sec, F-stop - f/10, ISO speed - 100 and focal length - 70 mm.
Lens used:  Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM. Backdrop was a black shower curtain. Finally, I cropped the shot heavily to increase dramatic effect.

Stephanie & the CJ7

We had a fun time this weekend for Father's Day, with Pam's side of the family, attending. Niece Stephanie seemed to really enjoy bouncing around the homestead in the old CJ7.

...And Glory Abounds

Some people miss out on a lot by never looking up.

Hottie

Pam was digging through some of her old pics the other day and came across this one. It was when she went back to Kansas for her 10th-year class reunion. She had made the outfit she is wearing and I think she was hot! The girl's got legs.

Gnarly, Dude!

The first to bloom, this year. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to how they grow.

Pastel Still Life

 

I believe this was the second pastel I ever did. It measures 24" x 36", and is the same as the first one I painted. (A study from an old instruction booklet by Daniel Greene). The first one was a gift to my grandmother, but it was consumed in a house fire, as was she. This second one still hangs in my mother's home. Painted on sanded and primed hardboard.