I suppose that was the push to go for a drive. Getting my money’s worth with more than short jaunts.
I took a road I’ve not traveled for some time. Old Route 36 East towards Decatur, Illinois. It’s been replaced by Interstate 72, but still serves a good purpose for the local farm traffic.
The clouds were interesting, but I was so struck by the vanishing point of the road that I stopped my car.
There were no traffic in either direction. I stuck my head out and grabbed this, tilt and all.
Heading down the two-lane highway, towards the deep blue sky.
Today, I did.
My tripod has a center column which doubles as a monopod. Handy in many cases where I want a bit of extra stabilization without the whole tripod.
Like today.
I went to Stuart Park again, near my home. Handy, that.
I walked out to the middle of a large field - it serves as the outfield for one of the baseball diamonds.
I tilted the camera down towards me and set exposure and a 10 second delay. Took a few at different exposures - the sun is brilliantly bright.
Why do I stick my hand out? Ta-Da! It’s the Ta-Da pose I suppose. =)
Since I was stopped at a red light, it was easy to get.
I had my camera already out and set for a rough exposure.
One shot.
A bit of Lightroom (beta 2.0 version) and here you are.
A slice of late Spring.
I could have set up a capture with a flash, but I was in a hurry (working on photos for a client - takes priority).
So, I sat down at my chair which serves as my office and workspace. Tilt the camera just a bit, and here you are.
Some sepia sauciness for your Friday.
I went to my newly discovered location for wide prairie landscapes, and grabbed this one.
The clouds seem to be dancing among the deep blue sky.
Just the remedy for a convalescence.
About 20 years ago, I had my upper third molars removed. They came out quickly and easily. The lowers were not erupted and not causing any problems until recently.
My left lower third molar was poking up and causing problems with it’s neighbor. Tooth number 17 in case you’re interested.
Simple solution, according to my brother-in-law the dentist. Pull it out. He referred me to a local oral surgeon.
So today, there I was, surrounded by more tools than you could count, and a very experienced surgeon and assistant. I had elected for just a local, so after I was numbed up, we began.
“Here, bite down on this so I can get a good grip” was said as a big chunk of black rubber was inserted. 10 seconds later and the tooth was out.
“That’s why I went to four years of dental school followed by four years of oral surgery residency!” said the doctor. He was chuckling at how easy it was. I complimented him, thanking him for his experience, and silently very grateful that it was so easy.
“Do you want to take it home with you?” Of course! So I immediately thought of how to incorporate it into my self portrait.
I spared us all by converting to black and white. I vainly turned it upside down, to further spare us from the awful truth of tooth decay (filled cavities).
Doing just fine, slowly getting the feeling back in my face and tongue.
One of our sewage treatment plants for the city of Springfield. On Eighth Street Road, North of the fairgrounds.
I’ve always avoided or sped up through the area, due to the persistent stench.
A necessary stench, but avoidance producing in any case.
Thanks to this and other waste treatment plants, I enjoy fresh, clean, treated water in my home. Something many folks of the world cannot enjoy, I take usually for granted.
The sun was heading towards the horizon, and I caught it with a nicely stopped down exposure here.
Beauty and the Beast, both needed for our quality of living.
