Penning Photography Daily

Karen took this one after I set it up.

We enjoyed an early evening dinner out together. Time to re-connect after both our busy week.

You can get a good idea of the eclectic interior of this wonderful restaurant: Catie Girl’s. Found on 4th and Jefferson in the street level of the St. Nick Apartments.

Good food and being with my bride, my Karen Sue.

The only mar on the evening: the desserts sounded too good to pass up, which we did.

Karen longed for a small piece of chocolate. She got a substitute later at home – a Weight Watcher chocolate bar. Not the same. =)

The amazing thing about a near 15 meg photo sensor – found in my Pentax K20D, is the amount of cropping that can be done and maintain a superb level of detail.

This crop of a rusty bolt on our outside basketball hoop is about 1/10th of the frame.

Pretty impressive for the sensor, and the lens. It takes sharp lenses to get the most out of that information dense sensor.

My Sigma 17-70mm continues to please me. A good match for the mighty K20D.

I don’t relish replacing this basketball hoop, as I know I must some day prior to moving on.

It’s really fused tight on there.

Got a haircut today.

Hence, the source of my self portrait today.

Andrea, my “stylist” (great stylist at that – but I find it amusing that I go to a stylist and not a barber) says it’s about as gray as it was 8 weeks ago.

Looks whiter, grayer, more silvery to me.

I think we each have an image of what we look like that takes a while to catch up or forever lags reality.

Looking to a mirror is interesting – to compare the interior image to the reflected.

Photographs are even more reality shocking.

This self portrait adventure I’m on has been full of surprises as I see what the camera sees and not what I imagine. =)

“Let’s get together and be a Rock Band!”

My friend John, said one night to a bunch of friends. I’ve got some music, you’ve talent and voices. Let’s just do it for fun.=)

So tonight was our first “Rock Band” night at Maureen’s.

We made up with enthusiasm what we lacked in talent or harmony.

“One is the Loneliest Number” by Three Dog Night, “If” by Bread, “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John (and Bernie Taupin), “Rocket Man” by the same.

We had fun, laughed a bunch and discovered that some of these songs are for very high tenor voices!

Next time, I’m looking up “Magic Bus” by The Who, and “Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison, & “China Grove” by The Doobie Brothers.

Too Much, the Magic Bus!

I saw the water from today’s showers, and immediately thought of a reflection photo.

I passed up one in the parking lot at work.

I go weigh myself every week on Wednesdays at the Prairie Heart Institute of St. John’s Hospital. This lovely puddle was right outside the door I use.

Opportunity knocked and I answered the door.

At first I tried a shot with my camera on the ground – not enough height, and I was getting strange looks from passers-by. =)

I grabbed my tripod (always carry one if possible) and set up.

A little 10 second delay, a little dance step with my foot (don’t ask me why my foot is raised), and here you are.

A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants. =) Me.

The storm clouds started gathering in the afternoon.

As I was heading to my car, I started thinking of places to take advantage of the clouds overhead for my photo of the day.

I found myself heading to this church.

Westminster Presbyterian, in the 500 block of South Walnut. English Gothic, built in 1906 and in marvelous condition. Lovingly cared for and updated over the years.

I recall that lightning hit and knocked off one of the turrets at the top of the bell tower many years ago. Looks like they did a good job on the repair.

I set my Pentax K20D on my favorite Gorillapod, and twisted it into a vertical position on the grass.

Love the grass in the foreground, almost as much as the definition in the clouds.

A wee bit of HDR (High Dynamic Range) goodness from Photomatix. Some final sharpening and a touch of clarity in Lightroom (beta 2) and I’m done.

Sure turned out nice. To these eyes. =)

A gray, overcast afternoon.

I set up on the seldom used living room couch, facing the large bay windows.

Camera on the Gorillapod on top of the low table. Remote shutter release in hand.

I put a pocket LED light behind me to provide some separation between me and the wall.

A little Lightroom (beta 2) magic and here you are.

I’m reminded of an infamous photo of a former US President.

Then again, maybe not. =)