Penning Photography Daily

The sunset was spectacular tonight.

Chris, Karen and I had gone to Taylorville Correctional Center to visit a relative in prison. Not a fun trip, but we did bring some family normalcy to an otherwise depressing time. We played cards and talked about the future. There’s always hope.

As we left the prison, our collective breath was taken away by the gorgeous sunset. If I had my camera on me (didn’t take it into the prison with me), the photo of the breathtaking sunset with the prison fence in the foreground would have made a powerful statement.

As it was, we drove just a bit from the prison to capture the sunset against the wide open prarie.

I had used my wide-angle Sigma 10-20mm lens. My fingers froze up fast in the 12F degree and dropping frigid air. Chris wanted to use my 50-135mm lens, so I swapped lenses and gave him the Pentax K20D.

While my hands warmed up, I gave Karen the Panasonic LX3 and asked her to take Chris’ photo out the car window. I kept directing her on how to frame Chris and the landscape. This is Karen’s favorite and mine.

Portrait of the artist, freezing for his art. Love the backdrop.

This sunset and tree was taken just before my hands froze up.

The outside temperature, without the wind chill was 12F. The wind was whipping off the bare prairie fields of plowed-under corn. I was only outside about 5 minutes, when the feeling left my hands.

I love the stark, bare limbs of this tall and stately tree, against the riot of color in the sunset sky.

Look closely at the right of the stone spire. See the wires?

This is part of Kumler United Methodist Church at 5th & Carpenter steets.

The similarities to today’s other photo are striking in it’s stone work. Grace Lutheran and Kumler might have been constructed from the same stone quarry. I wonder.

The illumination of the stones give a high contrast, and visual interest.

Just a bit of something that caught my eye on my way home. Pop open the car window and take a couple of frames as I was waiting for the light to change.

I was plugged in to the sights to see tonight.

The spire of Grace Lutheran Church at Seventh & Capitol.

The way this chuch is lighted, really makes this pop out against the dark winter sky.

I tilted this to give it a feel of reaching out, which is really the point of a church spire anyway.

All the prayers of the congregants reaching upwards to God in heaven.

This church is about a block away from the only home President Abraham Lincoln owned. It’s still there, having been restored and is maintained by the U.S. Park Service.

Imagine what a stonemason must have felt like, on scaffolding up 50 foot or so high, carefully placing all these stones.

I kept looking at this river of clouds and saying, I should go get that with my camera.

I was busy, with many things today, but I made time to at least get out my camera and put on the wide angle lens and grab this portrait of the sky over Springfield.

I used the Sigma 10-20mm lens for this. The ultra-wide angle gives the vista that I was seeing.

A river of whispy clouds, flowing ever eastward. Presenting a movable feast of sight for my delight.

After choir practice, I was showing Dan the nice sky & cloud photo I captured today.

Dan was showing me his new Blackberry.

Two geeks comparing our stuff.

I then proceeded to take this one of Dan.

‘Memory Card Full’

Just enough for this one.

I like Dan’s impish smile. He’s a great musician and technical wizard. A master of many electronic devices, including networking, recording audio & video, and a HAM radio operator. And above that, he’s a nice friend.

Thanks Dan!

Just about to get into my car one morning, I spied this layer of snow-ice crystals on top of my car.

Quick to grab my camera and here you are.

I love the light and the sparkle.

A bit of whimsy to brighten my morning.