Bare Trees In Snow

 

Another from todays visit to Watershed Nature Center.  Cropped to 16x20 aspect ratio, trying to decide if I want to get this one printed.....  I rather like it, though.  Here's a larger version.

Ending 2012....

We had quite a bit of snow for a while today.  Temperatures around freezing kept accumulation to a minimum, but it made for a pretty time.  I managed an excursion to Watershed Nature Center, where I had some photo-fun.  A couple of images:

 

 

 

Puppy Portrait

So, I was sitting on the floor today, looking over my new camera, and our dog (Chuckie) decided to sit and stare at me.  A perfect photo op!!  I managed only one shot before he decided to come visit.

One of the problems with shooting pets is the eye reflections.  Usually NOT handled well by softwere "red-eye" algorithms.  But, a quick google revealed a nice little tutorial.    I think it worked pretty well, no?

Here's the "straight from camera" version:

Snowy Morning

We had our first appreciable snow of the season yesterday evening.  Less than an inch at our place, but enought to make it pretty.  This is just a little "slice of life". looking across the neighbor's yard to the street corner this morning.

Even In the Quietest Moments....

It was a grey, dull day.  Low 30's, bit of a breeze, a sky that threatened snow (but didn't actually provide)....  Bleah. 

But I did find a little color, in the few leftover leaves of a Spirea bush in our front yeard.  Another test image with my new camera.  Not too bad...  This is with the base "kit" lens, but my Macro lens.

The title is pretty random, but that's what came to mind.  From the Supertramp song from their 1977 album.  I don't even own that one! 

Lines On My Face

Some digital games with a test shot off my new camera....  Rotate, convert to B&W, copy/flip. paste together..... voila!

Heres' (reduced size) the StraightFromCamera version:

 

 

The title is (of course) from the old Peter Frampton song....

Woods!

I spent some "woods time" in Pleasant Rideg Park today.  Good stuff.  This is from my iPhone....

Junier Trees

Taken at the Grand Canyon park, in the Tusayan Ruins area.

How years ago in days of old when magic filled the air........

Went to see "The Hobbit" this afternoon.  And a very fine show it was.

My son read the book in the past month or so, consequently he was pumped.  (He's working through my battered set of "Lord Of The Rings" paperbacks now).  It's been decades since I've read it, but I think I might have to give it another perusal.

The title is from one of the Led Zeppelin songs that references Tolkien's works.

People taking Pictures....

There's no shortage of folks with cameras at the Grand Canyon.  And many of those cameras are down-right grand....  I occasionally fely humbled with my humble Point-n-Shoot.  (I didn't take my DSLR, because it has been misbehaving lately).

Anyway, I liked this image of a young lady (well, younger than me) capturing an image.

Circles, Leading Me Back To You....

Cool find during our Grand Canyon trip.  I have no clue what kind of plant this is, but I really liked the loopiness.....  Taken at Tusayan Indian Ruins area.

Title is reom the Who song "Instant Party"

 

Desert View Watchtower Panorama

Larger version here.

Rock Formations - Grand Canyon

I rather like this one....................

Because I Notice These Things......

So, hanging out at Desert View Watchtower, waiting for the family to finish at the gift shop.  There with the stunning vistas, and dramatic sights....  What do I notice??  A tiny blue berry in the crook of a Juniper tree.  Yep.

I did some selective coloring to make it stand out better....

One More Time..... Cardenas Butte

 Just in case you didn'ty get enoough HERE.   Taken from the Desert View area at Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon #6456

Looking northeast, into the canyon.  From the Desert View Watchtower area.
And another panorama:

This is looking pretty much due west.  With Cedar Mountain butte in the distance.  Full size version HERE.

Failure....

A couple of images from Oak Creek Canyon, on the road between Flagstaff and Sedona.
Two attempts at the same subject.  Neither of which matched my vision....

Sigh.

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure I think the top one (lamdscape) is a bit less bad.

They're both too much, too busy......

Roadside Attractions?

Motel Sign, Sedona Arizona.  Still workimng through images from last month's AZ tgrip....  there's still quite a few!

 

See below for a "staging shot".....

 

 

 

 

Cardenas Butte

More from our recent trip to Arizona...  there's still lots of images to process!

Cardenas Butte, as seen from the Grand Canyon Desert View observation area.  As best I can tell (from Google Earth) the peak on the left is about 6,000 ft above sea leave.  A mere 1,400 feet below our vantage point.  The Colorado River is behind this formation, and another 4,000 feet or so down.

Larger version here.

Another formation from the same vantage:

And a zoomed-out image showing both!  (just for reference)...

Last is an image looking west in into the canyon, with Cardenas Butte in the foreground.

Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon

On the eastern edge of Grand Canyon's south rim drive.  This was our introductio to the canyon, and a fine one indeed!  The watchtower was built in 1932 and includes a gift shop and spiral sairs to overlooking levels.  The top viewing platform was closed, probably a combination of safety for both the tower and partons....  Larger version, etc.. HERE

Here's the family, enjoying the view.  Yep, a snapshot moment!

 

And lastly, a veiw as you approach the tower from the parking area...  Also a bit "snapshoty"...  The top photo is taken from off the left side of this image, fram along the canyon edge.

 

Mastercard?

From a sign at the Little Colorado Scenic Overlook.....

'Cause canyons will echo my voice .....

Another couple of images  from Little Colorado River Overlook, on the road to the Grand Canyon.  While not as stunning as the Grand Canyon, this was a really cool spot.

 

 

The post tile is lyrics from Chris August's song Canyons (Beautiful Noise).

Old Beech Tree

I've been participating at a blog called The World In Black And White.  I've posted less than 1/2 dozen photos over the past 2 months, but it's been a fun addtion to my activities.  Primarily because I've been able to enjoy the photos posted by others...

This one is particularly fetching...  In fact all of Mr. Becker's work is humbling.

Be sure and click through for the "real" version.  It's worth the look.

Tiny's!

During our recent trip to Arizona our friends took us by a funky little place for lunch:  Tiny's Family Restaurant.  Also known as Tiny's Saloon.  It was too crowded for any good photos, but was perfect for some good food.  Nothing fancy, burgers and fries.  But done right!

A few more photos:

We ate really well on this trip.  Tuscosn, Flagstaff....  all good!

The title of this book was in binary.

Geek humor:

Yeah, I laughed.   Binary, get it???                             Nevermind.
I found this over on the talkbass.com forums.

Little Colorado River Overlook

Something about the desert jsut screams out "PANORAMA!"....  At least to me.  Here's another one, just a few miles NW of the last one.  Again, check out the larger version at Panoramio.  If you click on that version, you can pull up the full size.  At 120 px/in, this would print over 60" wide!

Nothing Is Impossible.....

"Nothing Is Impossible With God"  Luke 1:37

 

 

My son at the Little Colorado Scenic Overlook.   A very cool little spot on the road from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon.  We spent about an hour here, checking out the Little Colorado River Gorge and the Native American wares.

Through The Desert... Panorama

On the road to the Grand Canyon...  Bigger version here.

First Amendment Plaza

Outside the Communications Building at Northern Arizona University...

"Congress shall make no law repecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievancews."

 

 

Good stuff.

Arizona Mountains

The mountains above Slide Rock State Park, along the road between Flagstaff and Sedona, Arizona.

Desert Sunset

near Bapchule, AZ, between Phoenix and Tuscon.  This was actually taken from a moving car, by my son (I was driving)...

Here's a version taken about 5 minutes later, during the last rays of the sun.  Pretty awesome.

Larger version, etc, HERE.

There's A Moon In The Sky....

Another "rough mix" from our recent trip to the Grand Canyon....

Oak Creek Canyon

Along the road from Flagstaff to Sedona, AZ.  Another "rough mix".  But I rather like this one...

A Rare Portrait

Regular readers know that I take very few "people pictures".  If you do see people in a photo, they'll probably be facing away from me.  But to every rule, there's an exception...

I took this photo of my son today at Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona.  And I quite like it.