Penning Photography Daily

A simple frame grab while driving.

I noticed the blue sky and the cloud formation with the barren fields below and the strip of green whizzing by.

Lower my window, put the camera on full program, and point and shoot.

Sometimes the photos just seem to take themselves.

The difference is, I saw it, and I acted.

Otherwise, this would be a distant memory, instead of a beautiful reminder.

I was in need of a bit of wonder tonight.

I had spent most of this beautiful day indoors, working on 500+ computers with my team. Don’t ask, it wasn’t pretty, but we got the job done.

I exited the building and looked up, of course.

The sky was turning into layers of contrasting clouds. Light puffy things, and rain clouds competed for the same airspace.

Patches of blue sky, which had dominated the sky for much of the day, were trying to stay in view. It’s as if there was a game going on for dominance of the sky.

Eventually, the storm clouds won out.

But while the game was on, and light, blue sky, brilliant sunlight, white clouds and storm clouds were in play, wow was it spectacular.

This formation of a huge rain-filled storm cloud boundary against the sunlight had me stop my car at a traffic light. I whipped off the lens cap of my ever handy Panasonic LX3 and composed this one frame. I took several others, before and after this one. I kept coming back to this tableau.

Wonder and delight at the dance of clouds and light.

I’ve been seeing fields of clover around. Planted in the fields by farmers, I suppose to add some lacking nutrient.

The vast sea of lavender color fascinates.

I went in search of some of these fields, late this afternoon. I headed west towards Pleasant Plains, Illinois.

I found my field in Clayville, Illinois. Home of the former Clayville Tavern. A stagecoach stop on the way between Springfield and Beardstown, this is a historic site, but not the subject of my photo quest today. I was interested in the fields of clover next to the buildings.

I stopped my car on a gravel road, hoping that no one came by, as the road wasn’t too wide. I set my Pentax K20D to take 5 exposures, each at 1ev + and – of a normal exposure, along with one normal exposure.

When I processed them through PhotomatixPro, I was delighted with the results.

A bit of color and sunshine for your day.

This is the second year I’ve taken portraits for my sister’s kindergarten class and their Elegant Event.

Trish, on the left, and her aid, guide the class (as well as one other Kindergarten class) through a mini Prom event.

They are dressed up in their finest, one boy had a tux! I took their portraits, singly and as a “couple.” They have lunch served by “waitstaff” (their parents). They have a menu with prices (peanut butter & jelly sandwich: $1.25 and such) and have to pay and tip using play money.

It’s all about showing that they know their manners, how to eat in a social setting, how to treat each other and those who serve them. All good things to learn.

Trish loves her children and the joy of teaching them. She’s done it for 34 years and isn’t planning on stopping yet.

You can tell she’s having fun playing dress-up.

Today, April 23, 2009, is the Day of the Donut!

Jake Rome, among other things, is a photographer who posts his work on Flickr. He started a Flickr group called We Demand Donuts! It was mostly a parody of other protest groups on Flickr, but it’s turned into a popular group.

Flickr, being the folks that they are, caved to the group’s demands and gave away donuts last year in San Francisco. Word is, the give-away happened again today!

I took this photo of a box of our local famous donuts – Mel-O-Cream. In business since 1932, a Mel-O-Cream donut has become firmly fixed in most area hearts and stomachs as having no peer, except if you happen to be near a Krispy Kreme as those come fresh & hot out of the oven. Still, Mel-O-Creams have a wide variety of unique donuts. Most folks have their favorites and grab them whenever a box of these is opened.

So, here’s to the Day of the Donut! We demanded donuts and our demands were met.

Now, to be fully candid, I didn’t partake of any donut, either yesterday or today. My donut eating days are in the past. I still enjoy the smell and the visual treat though.

Jake Rome: What kind of donut did you get today? I’ll bet our Mel-O-Cream donuts are better. Stop by Springfield, Illinois sometime for a taste treat!

Karen took this one of the hosta greening up prior to blooming in our front flower bed.

I love the textures and the bits of grape hyacynth that are interspersed at the base of the green shoots.

Spring is putting on it’s lush coat of green.

I’m ready for it.

My brother Dennis, being a good brother, letting me show off my Orbis Ring Flash.

Denny & Kieran, came over to spend the night last weekend. We had a fun evening of food, family talk and laughter with Karen and my sister Trish.

Being the baby of eight siblings, my older brothers and sisters have had much practice, over the years, of helping out, tolerating, teasing, laughing with, etc, the youngest, me. We love each other dearly, but also know the buttons to push or to stay away from, depending on the mood.

We had fun, getting back in touch in person.

You can tell, I got the better deal of the hair genes. Ha!