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