LSquared Imaging: 01/2018

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

52 Week Challeneg Week 4 - Quiet Moment

Following yesterday's (late) post of week 3, here's my entry for week 4 of the 52 week challeng. Week 4's theme was

Creative: Quiet Moment

Here's my entry:

As I noted on the entry: Busy week, didn't get any photos taken... And busy Saturday. But late in the day, I manged to find some time to get away from it all, and find a quiet spot.

I enjoyed this spot, it took a little wandering t find...

Remember, you can find all my entries to the 52 week challenge here.

Next week's theme: Wildcard: Photographer's Choice
Capture an image on your terms; who, what, where, when, why, how… it's all up to you. Caveat: You must tell us your intent.

Monday, January 29, 2018

52 Week Challenge, Week 3 - In And Out

OK, I'm behind. At least behind here.

As previously noted, I'm doing a 52 week challenge over at 365project. I posted (here) for weeks 1 and 2, but forgot week 3. So today I'll do week 3, and tomorrow week 4. And I'll beg for forgiveness.

Meanwhile, you can see all my entries here.

The theme for week 3 was Technical: Full Manual. Not really a good theme for me, I didn't have any sort of automatic capabilities for the first 25-30 years of photography. While these days I tend to shoot automatic most of the time (usually aperture mode), I do pay attention to shutter speed / aperture. And I frequently use funtions like exposure compensation to over-ride the automatic.

That said, I did this one fully on auto:

I wanted lots of depth of field.... and auto exposure would tend to be too dark, overcompensating for all that white snow. Anyway, there you have it. Shot full manual (on my compact digital).

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Lonely Is (As Lonely Does)

"Where do lonely people go

You're asking me, you'd think I know

They sadly start rebuilding walls

And quickly, quietly withdraw

But you, what of you?

What do you propose to do?

Live in the past, recall what was

And lonely is as lonely does

And when I'd lost the human race

I ran home and ran in place

And when my race was finally run

The loneliness had just begun

But you, what of you?

What do you propose to do?

Live in the past, recall what was

And lonely is as lonely does

Well, living in the past is rough

Living here today's enough

The future's much too far away

And lonely's with us every day

When happy's just a state of mind

That you were forced to leave behind

And when your world has crumbled fast

And solitude is left at last

But you, what of you?

What do you propose to do?

Live in the past, recall what was

And lonely is as lonely does

Lonely is as lonely does

But you, what of you?

Lonely is as lonely does

And you, what of you?

Lonely is as lonely does"

The dB's - Lonely Is As Lonely Does - from the album "Like This"

Also posted to my 365project site

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Saturday Drive

I labeled this Quilt Shops and Photo Ops (QSPO), but it is really only 1/2 that. I guess the point is that it was an opportuntiy for the wife and I to do an excursion, hitting the road. No quilt shops this time, but photo ops.... It all evens out in the end.

So, it was a nice Saturday afternoon, warm after a really cold spell, and my wife wondered if there would be eagles olong the Mississippi River. So we went and looked. Drove up the Great River Road, past Pere Marquette, explored a little up there, and drove back. We didn't see any eagles this time, but had enjoyed the company and the scenery. It was after 3 before we left, so we were up there for the late day sun (set). And I managed some shots that I'm happy with. So here you go: Click through on titles to see larger versions at 365project

Time Between Times. along Great River Road, a bit north of Alton

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Backroads, Not too far from Rosedale, IL

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Sunset. From one of the overlooks on the Secenic Drive above Pere Marquette Lodge

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Sunset and Ice. Illinois River, in front of Pere Marquette Lodge

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Least Light / Last Light, along Great River Road, a bit north of Alton

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Music Birthdays - January 23

January 23, 1953 - Robin Zander was born! He would, of course, go on to be the lead singer of Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductees Cheap Trick. I saw Cheap Trick July 12, 1978, at the War Memorial Arena in Johnstown PA. They were opening for Blue Oyster Cult, but more than held their own. This was shortly after they released "Heaven Tonight" and about 10 weeks after the recording of what would be "At Budokan" which made them stars (when released in the US, in early 1979)...

January 23, 1944, Johnny Winter was born! Blues guitarist extraordinaire, and older brother of Edgar Winter. Johnny Winter died in 2014 at the age of 70. I never had the chance to see him live, but he is solidly represented in my music collection.

Which shall I listen to tonight? Or both? Now that would be an odd playlist!

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Arched

St. Louis Arch, icy Mississippi River, northbound Barge.... From 33 floors up.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Old St. Louis County Courthouse

So, my son had a college interview in downtown St. Louis today. We dropped him off on the 33rd floor of some tall building, and wandered around for a little. We ended up at the Old Courthouse, which was pretty close. We've lived in St. Louis area for 28 years, and I'd never been inside.

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Pretty cool place, and I managed a few photos that make me happy. The best (IMHO) is of the rotundra, from the 2nd floor. Check out full version at 365project.

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Below is a panorama shot taken with my iPhone of the restored courtrooms. Again, check out full size version at 365:

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And, of course, I had to squeeze in the obligatory b-and-w "artsy" shot:

Anyway, it was a very cool visit, but short. We need to check it out for real sometime soon.

Any Colour You Like

My entry for week 2 of the 52-week challenge. Theme is:

Composition: Colour Harmony
Get out your colour wheel. Do opposites attract? Can there be harmony with opposite colours? Does the Hulk wear purple pants? Mix warm and cool colours."

I was struck by the randomness of this... Sometimes the colors mesh, sometimes they clash... all the while in triangular sets... I really like one of the comments on my post at 365project: "This says something about the illusion of choice."

Title from the Pink Floyd song:

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Don't Ask Me Why, Just Fly...

As I move into my 4th year at the 365project site, I'm not really focusing on doing a photo per day. But I'm still being active, I do like the site, and the community. One thing I'm trying to commit to is a 52-week challenge. There's a new theme each week, and one is tasked with taking a related photo. Sounds interesting, huh?

The first week's challenge was Vision: Look Ahead - New year. New beginnings. New you. Look ahead. Interpret as you wish.

Here's my image:

My comment on the post was: "I was struck by these geese, headed towards new challenges, new locations... new beginnings. Moving out. At least I presume... aren't they be migrating?"

Title is from the old Pure Prairie League song.

For the second week (which we're well into), the theme is Composition: Colour Harmony.
Get out your colour wheel. Do opposites attract? Can there be harmony with opposite colours? Does the Hulk wear purple pants? Mix warm and cool colours. Check back and see what (if anything) I come up with

#dogwoodweek1, #dogwood52, #dogwood2018

Friday, January 05, 2018

Milestone - 365-3

1/5/2018 marks the end of my 3rd year at 365project. Yes, most folks start a "picyure a day" project on January 1st, but I was a little late. And the project has continued to evolve for me. Or maybe devolve. As I noted last year, I've slacked off from the picture a day concept, but continue to use the site. I like the community, and the challenges. And having a forum to post.

But I posted 364 images in the first year (looking at the main album), and 321 in the second year. And only 222 images over the past year. But I haven't stressed too much about it. My "mojo" has ebbed as much as flowed this year, but I've been doing this too long to stress about it. I am hoping to ramp back up a bit in 2018.

Last year I posted my "Top Rated" photos. One year later, only 1 has changed, so I woun't bother reposting. But here's my images taken in the last year that made it to 365's "popular" page:

Wednesday, January 03, 2018

New Years Day...

Despite the bitter cold (8 degrees F with a breeze), I made a (short) excursion to WNC on New Year's Day, and managed a few images:

I asked my son (not quite 18y/o) which he liked better, and his comments were quite insightful. He said he figured the top one would be more popular, but he liked the bottom one better, as it was more "me".

Smart kid, he is.

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I posted both to 365project (here and here). After 2 days, the one he thought would be more popular has 60% more views, and qualified for the Popular page.

Tuesday, January 02, 2018

A Good Crop - 2017

Ansel Adams is credited with saying "Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop". In that spirit, I've tried to pick my 12 favorite photos each year, and post them here. (I don't know that anything I've done would qualify as "significant, after all)...

If you're interested, here's previous posts (I missed 2015):

2016 - A Good Crop

2014 - A Good Crop

2013 - A Good Crop

2012 - A Good Crop

So here you go, my crop for 2017. Click though to see larger versions over at my 365project site