Day 31 (1-31-11)

Marvin the Martian.  My favorite martian.  Too tired to comment anything else.  Goodnight.

102mm
f/4
ISO 800
1/20

Day 30 (1-30-11)

Yes, I'm still at work.  Well, technically I left and came back around 10pm.. but whatever.  This is a taste of the month or so to come.  These damn PA's.. I hate them.  I looked at the clock and realized it was around 11:45 and I needed to take a picture of something, so I hoisted the camera above my office and shot west.  At least I think it's west.  I don't know.  It's left of me, which to me means west.  Anyway, I'm holding down the fort on the 2nd floor although I hope to be leaving soon.. but I'll be back here in the morning.  Alas.

3 shot HDR
24mm
f/9
ISO 400
16/83 (? no idea - exposure time varied obviously, and when converted to HDR it creates some weird time that I can't figure out)

Day 29 (1-29-11)

Saw "127 Hours" today.  Great feel-good movie about the power of the mind and the will to live, although it was incredibly disturbing at times.  Loved it though.  Did some more work in the garage & then took Liam to go get a car wash.  The birds apparently hate my car.  Waiting for the terror to fall asleep so we can go to Indochine for dinner.  There is a monstrous plate of Imperial Rice with my name on it waiting for me.

Oh, the above picture?  That is a sampling of the majority of the Cars characters.  Some are missing because they were too big (Liam has all the characters but some are really big and some are Matchbox car sized like the above).  Due to lighting and lens constraints, there was no way to get them all in sharp focus so I focused on McQueen.

135mm
f/5.6
ISO 1600
1/15

Day 28 (1-28-11)

After a hell of a night (thank you Catie) we went to Paddy's Hollow for some lunch.  More organizing of the garage followed by a couple hours of fun at Town Creek Park and then later in the evening - Little Dipper.  Yum!

Day 27 (1-27-11)

The day is finally over.  Very tired, and very looking forward to going to bed - despite the screaming 8 month old who has been an absolute terror this week for some reason.  Anyway - watched Black Swan tonight (my own copy thankyouverymuch).  Very interesting.. very dark.. and WTF?  Um, did she die at the end?  If you haven't seen it yet, don't worry.  I didn't really give anything away.

105mm
f/5
ISO 800
1/125

Day 26 (1-16-11)

Errands and jobs today.  Put the car in for an oil change and to have roof racks installed.  Went to the mall to get Liam new sneakers and purchase a car-top carrier.  Installed car-top carrier because it was too big to fit in the car to get it home.  Came home - took off the car-top carrier.  Organized more of the garage (still looks like a bomb went off in there).  Back to work tomorrow but then off for two more days after that.  This is the calm before the storm.  80 hour work weeks start soon.  Joy.

105mm
f/4
ISO 1600
1/60

Day 25 (1-25-11)

Rainy day... bleh.  Had a good day though.  Went on some errands with Kris, then lunch at Macaroni Grill, and then a movie.  Ok, so the movie wasn't that good (No Strings Attached) - but I LOVE movie theater popcorn.  So I had that going for me.  Plus Natalie Portman is hot, so the movie wasn't all that bad.  Although it wasn't that good either.  Again, I had to scramble around the house to find something to photograph.  This whole photo a day thing is hard!  Anywho, thanks to grandma for watching the kiddos while we got out of the house today.  It was a much needed break.

70mm
f/4
ISO 1600
1/40

Day 24 (1-24-11)

Busy busy busy.  Didn't get out on lunch today to take any photos.  After the evening whathaveyou we all sat down and relaxed by eating crap and watching one of our favorite movies.  Mazel mazel, good things.

And if you are wondering, yes... this photo was a last minute scramble before bed because I almost forgot.

105mm
f/4
ISO 1600
1/30

Day 23 (1-23-11)

The Steelers are going to the Superbowl again, baby!  They dominated the Jets for the first half - then let them back in to make it a game in the 2nd.  I'm sure there are a lot of bitter Jets fans out there, and some serious Pittsburgh haters, hehe.  Now if I only had cable I'd actually be able to watch the game.  Sigh.

105mm
f/6.3
ISO 400
1/250

Day 22 (1-22-11)

Yum.

60mm
f/4
ISO 1600
1/15

Day 21 (1-21-11)

Well - my power cable (which has been acting up for a while now) finally crapped out tonight.  Right as I was importing my photo of the day.  This sucks.  Looks like a trip to Best Buy is in order tomorrow.  The above picture is courtesy of my phone, uploaded via my wife's computer.  At least I can still post something, right?

Day 20 (1-20-11)

Almost missed it.  Was heading up to bed when I realized I had less than 10 minutes to get my picture for the day.  Here it is - in all its glory.  11:56pm.  Goodnight!

60mm
f/4
ISO 800
1/60

Day 19 (1-19-11)

One hour straight and this was the best one I got.  I think the trick might be really strong light, like daylight.  I had two kitchen lights on, a key light and a softbox, and still couldn't get the light I needed.  Ah whatever.  I'll try it again another time.

135mm
f/2
ISO 1600
1/3200

Day 18 (1-18-11)

I love coffee... I really do.  I drink many cups a day.  I'm also a bit of a coffee snob.  I'll drink the free crap they have at work - not really sure what brand it is, but it sucks - but I prefer good, quality coffee.  I love Starbucks, but my favorite is Port City Java.  The above is a 3 exposure HDR shot from the inside of my favorite corner coffee shop - the PCJ on the corner of Front and Grace.
24mm
f/7.1
ISO 800
3/148 (figure that one out, ha!)

Day 17 (1-17-11)

Rain and the need for an oil change took up my lunch break so no outdoor shots today.  This is a baby bottle drying rack in my kitchen.  I placed a maroon tupperware lid behind it and shot wide open in order to make it less obvious and more abstract.  I really need a new lens.  My 50mm f/1.4 would have been perfect for this, but alas - some thieving bastard in Chicago has it now.  Hopefully they are putting it to good use.

135mm
f/4
ISO 1600
1/80

Day 16 (1-16-11)

Vine covered retaining wall on Ann St in between Water and Front.  Very cool wall in a very cool section of town.  This is obviously a tight crop/zoom.

24mm
f/8
ISO 400
1/50

Day 15 (1-15-11)

Roller-bladed today for the first time in god knows how long.  My ankles and calves hurt.  Spent the day playing with Liam and trying to entertain a cranky 8-month old who refused to nap, while Kris hung out with Aunt Erica (aka Clawdaddy).  Had a lot of fun today, but ZZZzzzzz... time for bed.

70mm
f/4.5
ISO 800
1/60

Day 14 (1-14-11)

Little boys will be little boys.  Running, jumping, throwing things, climbing fences.  I actually asked him to go over to the fence so I could get a picture of him, and he must have heard "go OVER the fence", which is exactly what he did.  Made for a fun pic though.

135mm
f/5.6
ISO 400
1/500

Day 13 (1-13-11)

This is Wilmington National Cemetery on Market St.  I've passed it countless times since moving here and was always struck by its beauty and uniqueness.  Just about all the cemeteries around here are of the small foot stone variety, with the fake flower vases at the head of each one.  Very flat and o very boring.  Wilmington National Cemetery actually has headstones, and they dot the sprawling 5+ acre rolling hills of an enclosed piece of land right between downtown and the commercial strip which is Market St.  All of the headstones are similar, and it is very reminiscent of Arlington National Cemetery, albeit on a much smaller scale.

While wandering around the grounds I found the grave of a young soldier killed in action in Baghdad, courtesy of an IED.  It was his second tour of duty and it happened on the last day of Iraqi city patrols.  He left behind a wife and two daughters.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090702/ARTICLES/907029927?p=1&tc=pg

135mm
f/5.6
ISO 400
1/500

Day 12 (1-12-11)

Apples & oranges and a little Alien Skin.  I've always thought the textures and backgrounds from Alien Skin were really cool, I just never found an actual use for them.  Until tonight.  And while I still really don't understand how to use them correctly and to their potential, I think I at least got something usable out of it this time.  It's weird, and kinda cool.  Ah, whatever.  Apples and oranges.


58mm
f/4
ISO 800
1/60

Day 11 (1-11-11)

A bunch of us met Steve and his wife Laura at Ten Pin Alley for some bowling and drinks and to wish him all the best as he is leaving Wilmington, and moving back to New York.  Ironically, he's going to be working out of the same office that we used to work in before we were "relocated" down here 6+ years ago.  It's funny how cyclic things are.  Anyway, we all had a great time tonight - even if I suck at bowling. And pool.  Farewell Steve - best of luck... and we'll see you up there relatively soon.  ;)


24mm
f/4.5
ISO 1600
1/40

Day 10 (1-10-11)

I totally don't give a shit today.  Here is a clock.  Been hanging on the wall in my dining room for 5+ years.  Don't think its worked since the day we put it up.  Whatever.  Post done.

Oh yeah - it snowed today.  You would have thought I'd have gotten a picture or two of that.  Yeah - you would have thought.

88mm
f/4
ISO 800
1/60

Day 9 (1-9-11)

Ran downtown during lunch today and took this shot of the BB&T building while standing in the courtyard outside the library.  It was brisk and windy but it made for a nice blue sky.  Three exposure shot, combined in Photomatix and further adjusted in CS4.  You see?  Better things do come out of not waiting until 11pm and then scrambling to find something in the house to shoot, lol.


24mm
f/9
ISO 200
1/128

Day 8 (1-8-11)

Three image HDR of the woods in the back of Town Creek Park.  I loved the way the light was hitting the trees and the rich color of the pine needle floor.  The clouds were crazy as well.  It was chilly today - about 46 but the wind was intense and it felt like it was in the 30's.  Liam and I spent a couple hours here today and had a great time.  We spent a little while running through here and kicking pine cones.  It was a good day today.

28mm
f/5.6
ISO 400
1/800

Day 7 (1-7-11)

So I've realized that when I don't get out and take pictures during the day, my creativity and enthusiasm for finding something interesting to shoot around the house at 11pm is pretty low.  Hence the above.  Much like my guitar shot, I didn't bother to move anything around, adjust lighting, or even change my lens.  I backed away from my subject (Behringer 14 track mixing board) until I could get the bare minimum in focus and fired off about 6 pictures.  The sharpest one with the least noise is what you see above, after a slight crop.  Interesting - almost.  I'll have to play around with this one another time and actually put some effort into it.

But I'm tired - and I'm going to sleep now.

135mm
f/4
ISO 800
1/60

Day 6 (1-6-11)

Vino!  For dinner tonight, pancakes and merlot.  An odd combination, but it worked.  Now I think I'll have an ice cream cone.  Yum!

135mm
f/3.5
ISO 800
1/40

Day 5 (1-5-11)

When dinosaurs attack, hehe.  Today was dreary and cold.  Took my camera to the park along with the kids and got nothing.  Well, I got a couple cute shots of Cate, but not really what I was looking for in a shot.  Came home and Liam had out all his dinosaurs.  One thing led to another and this is what I got.  Not great, but it satisfied my ridiculous side for the moment so, there you go.

On my way out to see Tron now.  Too bad I can't bring my camera in the theater.  Probably end up with a couple shots a hell of a lot cooler than this.  Oh well.

135mm
f/4.5
ISO 800
1/200

Day 4 (1-4-11)

Uninspired today.  Rushed downtown during lunch to get something - came back empty handed.  Sat around watching TV before venturing into the crap hole which is the garage and snapping a picture of one of my guitars.  I didn't even have the desire to move it around to get a better angle and background.  I adjusted the white balance to 2500k to get the blue tones, which I think fits a shot like this.  After all, it's a Fender Strat - played by blues musicians everywhere.  Probably could have gotten a really cool shot had I set up a little more.  Maybe next time.  I'm tired now, and I want to go to bed.

105mm
f/4
ISO 800
1/60

Day 3 (1-3-11)

One of the many walls inside The Cotton Exchange.  This particular section seemed to be dedicated to One Tree Hill.  Even though the signs ask politely that you do not write on the walls as the building is historic, and the wood and many of the fixtures old, it's still really cool to look at all the graffiti.  And surprisingly enough most of it is clean.

40mm
f/4
ISO 800
1/25

Day 2 (1-2-11)

Some classics from my library that I enjoyed reading at one time or another.  I used to really love Chaucer. And Milton.  And the subtle humor of Gary Larson.

50mm
f/4
ISO 1600
1/13

Day 1 (1-1-11)

Today was a beautiful day.  My phone said 68 degrees but it was probably 70 or so.  Spent the day at the park with the fam.  This was a random profile shot of Cate, as she was chewing on her sleeve.

98mm
f/10
ISO 800
1/200