Penning Photography Daily

Neighborhood friends.

Matt & Karen, Chris & Don, Sue & Gary.

Chris & Don have moved out of our neighborhood many years ago, but kept in touch through the years. We bought Chris & Don’s house,over 20 years ago, and they then moved down the block to a larger house. Gary & Sue bought our neighbors house, which was across the street from their old house. Can you see that we all liked our neighborhood?

Now Chris & Don live in Florida, and Sue & Gary will move in a year or so to New Mexico. Who knows where we’ll end up. =)

We came together tonight at Chris & Don’s son and daughter-in-law’s home, where their newborn granddaughter is the center of attention. We celebrated with lots of conversation of old times and new times, filling in on each family member. A delightful time.

I asked to do group portrait and mentioned using it for my self portrait of the day. They think I’m a bit daft, but then, you know it’s true. =)

Daft, but having so much fun, especially with good friends.

The Sangamon County complex of buildings on 9th street between Adams to the North and Monroe to the South.

Taken while walking downtown on a beautiful day.

I’m learning the new lens. the Sigma 10-20mm. You can really see the distortion at the edges of this one. Compositions at a better angle would minimize the distortion. A “Fish Eye” at this focal length – 10mm – would have big curves. With this lens, there’s lots of leaning objects. Both types of lenses, fish eye and rectilinear (like this one) have their uses.

I’m enjoying the learning process, as you can tell.

Gray, White or is it Silver?

My hair, that is.

I like to think of it as silver.

My Mom had a beautiful head of silver hair, all curly and full all her life. My Dad, was bald on top, with sides of black & silver.

I’ll take the thinning silver please. Like I’ve got a choice!

The dense clouds creating rays of light and shadow on the downtown skyline.

The 30 story Hilton hotel being the focal point.

I was again struck by the play of clouds and blue sky as I walked downtown today. See the airplane?

A beautiful day here. 80F/27C with a refreshing breeze. After so many days with rain, it has been a great reprieve.

I do pray for those along the great rivers such as the Mississippi, where so much flooding is going on. Such devastation. So much need. Donate if you can where you can to assist.

Just when I thought I could not get sillier…..

I noticed this hula girl figure on my desk, a gift from one of my staff. I have a collection of brick-a-brack like this.

This composition instantly popped into my demented brain.

“She’s touching me!”

I took several to make sure that I got the eyes just so. =)

A bit of black & white conversion and here you are.

Teresa – at camera right – recently retired after 35 years of service. Teresa does not look like she’s ready to retire at all. Especially in this photo.

We gathered tonight to celebrate with Teresa and Bob, who also retired. There were 50 of us to celebrate, some retired for many years.

In walks Teresa in costume, and I knew that we were all in for a treat. Teresa is a member of a belly dancing troupe “Troupe Zahava” who train, put on performances and have so much fun doing the dancing. She’s been doing it for two years, and wanted to put on a performance for her friends from work.

This is just one of several I took, there were about 8 dancers in all, doing about 4 different dances. It was a treat.

Happy retirement, Teresa! I’d say you’re not going to rest much. =)

On Father’s Day, after saying goodby to our son and his bride Jennie, the age-old question was spoken: “What’s for dinner?”

Somehow, we were too busy that day to have anything planned.

So at 9PM, we found ourselves eating out for dinner. A simple meal at a neighborhood Italian restaurant. Good food at very inexpensive prices.

On the way home, I noticed a local power substation, with lots of exposed steel and transformers, and wires. It was lit up, but there were nice shadows. I pulled around the block and got out my camera, set the exposure for a long shutter, and drove back. I pulled into the turn lane, which happened to be right in front of the power substation, but was too shakey with my camera handling. Oh well, subject for another time with a tripod.

Just a few blocks later, I started giggling with the thought of a self portrait at that long exposure in the car.

At the next stoplight (safety first!), I set the self timer, and positioned the camera up on the dashboard. Press the shutter and start the countdown when the light changed.

At first glance, I thought, this isn’t much, and I moved way too much. Then I smiled and went to work to bring you this.

The things my bride Karen puts up with! =)