Penning Photography Daily

One thing I love to do is listen to the radio. I guess it comes from listening in the car as a youth, while accompanying my Dad, to stations like the old KMOX, the “Voice of St. Louis” as in Missouri.

To get that good of reporting these days, I listen to our local National Public Radio (NPR) station, WUIS. Growing up in this most political of States (Illinois) in a most political Capitol City of Springfield, the second most favorite pastime is politics, second only to sports. One of the best ways to get my political jones salved is through the great reporting on politics by WUIS.

One of the ways I give back to this non-profit, University of Illinois Springfield hosted, radio station is to donate my photography skills as they have a need for them. Last year, after doing some photographic assignment for them, I was asked to do a series of portraits so the station could update their website with head shots of their staff. Over a series of days and nights, I captured most everyone who works at the station or has a regular radio show.

Amanda Vinicky is the Statehouse News Reporter for the station. That means that she knows more about State Government and the political complexities than I’ll ever know. It also means that when the Legislature is in session, she’s working nearly around the clock for what can be several months in a row.

I got Amanda in the first round of photographs, and, she asked for a re-take session. The first portrait was not up to her personal best, probably because I caught her on a very busy day, with little prep-time. I was happy to come back when she’d had plenty of time to prepare. When I got to the studio, she was on the air, doing her newscast, filling in for another staffer. Hair done up in gigantic curlers, I couldn’t help myself and grabbed a photo, through the studio glass, of her reading on air, looking quite unlike this. She was laughing later when I showed her. That relaxed us both.

I used my portable studio setup. A shoot-through white umbrella and one off -camera strobe, with a white bounce reflector to camera right, giving just a touch of glow to her hair and face on that side. A black backdrop and that was all I needed.

Don’t let that smile fool you. The toughest questions get asked of the highest and mightiest by this reporter.

Thanks to everyone at WUIS for the quality of programming they broadcast, especially the Statehouse News. My political junkie heart loves the work that you folks do.

The tail end of the summer, and the flowers are starting to fade, like this daisy, taking in the last rays of the summer sun.

The heat wave that we’ve had for more weeks than I care to think of took a breather today. It was in the very low 80’s Fahrenheit, and the wind was a cool breeze. No clouds in the sky to pull my eye to the heavens. The kind of weather that has folks opening up windows that have been closed to keep heat out, and let the cool breezes through.

As I was getting out of my car, I noticed the early evening, pre-sunset light coming through these yellow daisies that line our driveway. They were glowing with that wonderful “golden hour” sunlight. I pulled out my Panasonic LX3 from my pocket and set up the lens for macro, to get a good close-up of that light.

The wind was blowing these flowers around just a bit, but I held steady enough to get this on the second attempt. I like the deep green leaves with the sunlight showing through their yellowish veins, and the other daisies in the background.

A photograph makes for a perfect reminder of this late-summer evening. I can feel the warm sun and the cool wind, just looking at this.

Not only does it pay to look up, I have to remember to glance up more often.

The scene is changing constantly, moment by moment and as I change direction.

When I was waling to my car this evening, I glanced up and saw mostly blue sky with some nice clouds. Nothing spectacular, so I kept on walking, looking slightly down for interest and to avoid any obstacles in my way. I stopped and took some photos of a parking lot guard rail, against that blue sky, dotted with slight white clouds, a study in contrasts. Turning to my car, I waved hello to someone I knew. Ordinary events.

Then I looked up once more.

The enormous white cloud-bank stood nearly over the Illinois State Capitol, and I stopped, taking the grandeur in.

That was a no-brainer moment. I pulled the cap off my Panasonic LX3 once more. Framed and pressed the shutter twice, with this one being the last of the two.

An instant vertical landscape of the Capitol dome under a breathtaking sky.

Handy to have that camera in my pocket, isn’t it?

The leaves of our river birch tree, catching and reflecting the light of a late summer’s day.

The sharp serrations of the leaf are nicely balanced by the soft light that is reflected by the back of the other leaf in the foreground as well as the out of focus background.

Sharp and soft, in-focus and out-of-focus, reflecting the dual nature of much of life.

I was passing the tree, on my way to our front door from the car, when the flash of the green leaf at eye level caught my attention and had me back track. I was pulling out the Panasonic LX3 from my pocket as I backed up, knowing that a photo was forming it’s pulling tug in my mind.

At one point there was a lady-bug crawling on the leaf, but alas, it took off before I was ready. What did catch my eye was the texture of the front surface of the leaf. As I was looking closer, I saw that nicely reflected light underneath the other leaf.

It too but a couple of minutes. Now I have a good reminder of that scene, not just a fleeting memory, but this image to stir the soul and bring a smile.

A moment of wonder.

Some grass gone to seed.

Even the most common of things becomes interesting when viewed up close.

I love the tiny feelers, sprouting from the seeds. I suppose they are to help spread the seeds on the wind. To me, they’re fascinating examples of nature at work. So delicate and fine, purposeful and deliberate.

The wind blows these quite a bit, so it was hard to get a still photograph of them. I had my pocket wonder, the Panasonic LX3, at the ready, macro mode on. It was just a matter of me being patient. Standing still until the right moment of stillness occurred, and then gently squeezing the shutter.

Beauty captured in the stillness of the moment.

A flock of gulls, in a food fight, outside my car door.

A great opportunity to grab a photograph of the action. Nice that I had my camera all ready at my side on the seat next to me. A simple matter to lower the window and fire off a few frames.

I like this moment, frozen by the swift shutter of the camera. Every bird has it’s own look. All eyes are on the piece of food that is in the beak of the current victor. They all had a chance at the large chunk, as they would have to tear off a piece and step aside to swallow, leaving the food for the next one of the flock to tear off their piece.

There’s always something to see, even out the car window.

Sissy is the curious but laid back cat.

She’s quite content to sit, lay and sleep for much of every day. What does get her attention is all the activity that the out-of-doors brings to the window views. It’s like the cats own television with an unlimited number of channels to watch. When the sun goes down, the night life comes calling.

The lights in the sun room were an irresistible attraction for many insects.

I was packing up and heading for bed, when Karen said: “Look at Sissy!”

A quick grab with my Panasonic LX3 and here you are. A portrait of a kitty, entranced with the life on display, just for her.

Relaxed and alert.