Christmas in Paradise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zERdUyhVjPA&feature=autoshare

Bullet Holes in the Sky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9XXVG0WGtA&feature=autoshare

Some shots from a concert I went to this weekend. Link in comments to most of the show and you might see me in the crowd.

Some shots from a concert I went to this weekend. Link in comments to most of the show and you might see me in the crowd.
Some notes- remember ALL your settings (like ISO) and if you bring a camera to a show, act like a photographer dammit ! If the light is low, get in close. No, really close. Remember - it's okay to duck under the ropes, you're a photographer aren't you ???
Also - get comfortable with your camera so you can keep one hand on your beer. And finally - it's hard to pass the moonshine, or anything else around with the performers if you don't hang out by the back door. The guy in the curled up cap is Hippy Jack and that's Mary Gauthier. You should listen to the song of hers I linked. It's one of her best and so appropriate for these trying times we're in today.

The Story of My Life for Powerline Friday #powerlinefriday and a tip of the hat to Natosha Davis

The Story of My Life for Powerline Friday  #powerlinefriday  and a tip of the hat to Natosha Davis

#wordlessonwednesday

#wordlessonwednesday

Sorry I've been wrapped up in IRL stuff. Here's a little something via the PIP Camera app.

Sorry I've been wrapped up in IRL stuff. Here's a little something via the PIP Camera app.

I've seen good times and bad times. I can't remember anything quite like 2016 though. I suppose things will get worse before (or if) they get better but for now - I just give up. I surrender.

I've seen good times and bad times. I can't remember anything quite like 2016 though. I suppose things will get worse before (or if) they get better but for now - I just give up. I surrender.
PS - thanks in advance but no, I don't want to talk about it.

Bernie tried to warn us

Bernie tried to warn us
Chomsky declared the Republican party “the most dangerous organisation in world history”. In this article he claims, "The party is dedicated to racing as rapidly as possible to the destruction of organised human life. There is no historical precedent for such a stand.“
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/noam-chomsky-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-a7438526.html

I miss the good old days when the doomsday~preppers seemed like they were the crazy ones.

I took a beginners class recently and here is a sample of some of the assignments I did. I have a bad habit of skipping over the basics and then regretting it later. Then when I go to the tutorials I do it again. Just a little bit of structure and a couple of bucks helped me stay focused this time.

I took a beginners class recently and here is a sample of some of the assignments I did. I have a bad habit of skipping over the basics and then regretting it later. Then when I go to the tutorials I do it again. Just a little bit of structure and a couple of bucks helped me stay focused this time.
My interest in GIMP is 99% photo related. I rarely have any interest in fonts or graphic design or - well the list of things I'm ignorant about would be too long. I'll just say that Brian (the instructor) has a way of showing you things that makes it easy to follow along. He keeps the easy things easy then suddenly, boom ! You learned something. I'll admit that there were a few times (like working with masks and selections) where I thought, "I don't get it, and I know a better way anyway". I got a lot of value though from going over it again and doing it the way the course showed. And that, made this course worthwhile for me. There is a huge difference between knowing about how to do something and knowing how to do it.
Oh yeah - the course I took was https://goo.gl/cQpWD0
GIMP for Beginners via udemy.com

#wordlessonwednesday

#wordlessonwednesday

Cynthia

Cynthia
This is probably pretty close to the original. I left it as a png file so the jpg compression wouldn't degrade it. Hope it helps and good luck with your project.
Theo

Hi

Hi
I fiddled around a little with your picture. Is this (partly) what you had in mind. I used the clone tool and the blur tool on it. It took me about five minutes to get to this point. I made a recording if you need to see what I did.
You could probably do a little better since it's your project. I just wanted to sort of show one possible solution and didn't try to be too precise.

Title

And the first arrest for attempted voter fraud in the 2016 election goes to a Donald Trump supporter in Iowa.

And the first arrest for attempted voter fraud in the 2016 election goes to a Donald Trump supporter in Iowa.

I am shocked ~ shocked I tell you !
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/donald-trump-supporter-iowa-arrested-voter-fraud-article-1.2850101

Once again I shared this to "public" instead of the group. Luckily - one of my followers plussed it twice and I noticed that I'd forgot to post it here.

Once again I shared this to "public" instead of the group. Luckily - one of my followers plussed it twice and I noticed that I'd forgot to post it here.
(I just figured nobody in the WPP liked it) LOL

Originally shared by ted kelly

WPP2016 - Week 43 - Colors

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell


#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-43-Colors

#wordlessonwednesday

#wordlessonwednesday

I know it's a cliche' but it was mostly fun to do.

I know it's a cliche' but it was mostly fun to do.

Originally shared by ted kelly

WPP2016 - Week 43 - Colors

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell


#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-43-Colors

WPP2016 - Week 43 - Colors

WPP2016 - Week 43 - Colors

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell


#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-43-Colors

Dear Trump Supporters:

Dear Trump Supporters:
The Liberals are on the ropes. They're desperate and despicable and they're coming to tear down all that's important to us. They want our guns and our God given rights and they're even trying to woo away our womenfolk. It's time to take a stand.

So ~ TODAY ~ right now even:
Go on and find yourself a female type NRA member or better yet one of them there LADY COPS and just reach out to her. Grab her by her ladybits and mansplain to her just how important this election is. Just make sure that what ever woman you grab is packing heat so you know that she believes in 2nd amendment solutions.

Do it today, She'll probably plant a big old kiss right on you. Don't be surprised if she doesn't even ask you first. Just do it. Show us for sure that you're a real red blooded Make America Great kind of guy.

psst...

#circleshapesmonday Circle Shapes Monday

#circleshapesmonday  Circle Shapes Monday 
Q: What word starts with "F" and ends with "UCK" ?

Seeing this reminded me of two things. Remember to count your blessings.

Seeing this reminded me of two things. Remember to count your blessings.
and...
I read an article some time ago about a professional photographer who had a blind person do most of their post processing work. The blind person didn't look at the images of course but used some sort of text~to~speech tool to listen to the histogram info and voice controls on the sliders. Their workflow was faster and more consistent than the sighted staffers. How cool is that ?
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/_recent_news/museum-of-art-hosting-sunday-opening-reception-for-sight-unseen/article_6397d344-97c2-11e6-b41e-a3c9c280a047.html

I saw this car the other day and just for a moment - in my mind, I was back in high school, and back home in Florida and back at the beach. I'd wash and wax my powder blue Corvair and have the Craig Powerplay 8-track cranking out some Steve Miller. Nobody ever called me "The Gangster of Love" and I never won any street races but a guy always remembers his first... #amiright #ralphnadersucks #classof74

I saw this car the other day and just for a moment - in my mind, I was back in high school, and back home in Florida and back at the beach. I'd wash and wax my powder blue Corvair and have the Craig Powerplay 8-track cranking out some Steve Miller. Nobody ever called me "The Gangster of Love" and I never won any street races but a guy always remembers his first... #amiright   #ralphnadersucks   #classof74  

PS - I got the background from Pixabay. It's a great place to get stock photos and they're free, no strings attached. Also my car was a 65 Greenbriar and had a CB antenna on the roof, but looked a lot like this.

Processed with "face filter" and GIMP

Processed with "face filter" and GIMP
More on the "tent" graves at -  http://www.thegravewalkers.com/tentgraves.htm

Originally shared by ted kelly

Saylor Cemetery, located in Sparta, TN has a nice assortment of "tent" graves. (see link below) It also has this interesting marker (which I took the liberty of moving for mostly artistic reasons) in an area of unmarked graves.

Saylor Cemetery, located in Sparta, TN has a nice assortment of "tent" graves. (see link below) It also has this interesting marker (which I took the liberty of moving for mostly artistic reasons) in an area of unmarked graves.

Saylor Cemetery, located in Sparta, TN has a nice assortment of "tent" graves. (see link below) It also has this interesting marker (which I took the liberty of moving for mostly artistic reasons) in an area of unmarked graves.
http://www.thegravewalkers.com/tentgraves.htm

Here's a panorama I did today. I shot it hand held and tried to rotate it around the focal plane instead of using a tripod and pivoting around the mounting point. I included all the individual shots in case anyone wants to play with them.

Here's a panorama I did today. I shot it hand held and tried to rotate it around the focal plane instead of using a tripod and pivoting around the mounting point. I included all the individual shots in case anyone wants to play with them.
I used manual focus and exposure because the sky had so much range. I used Microsoft ICE to stitch them and then tuned up the panno with FastStone Viewer.

Oops - I posted this to public instead of in here. Damn you CNN...

Oops - I posted this to public instead of in here. Damn you CNN...

Originally shared by ted kelly

I grew up in south Florida where the only things that seem to change colors with the seasons were the cars license tags. And we didn't have "pumpkin spiced" every darned thing way back when either.

WPP2016 - Week 42 - Autumn or Spring

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell

#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-42-Autumn-or-Spring

The only season I'll be glad to see the end of is the election season.

The only season I'll be glad to see the end of is the election season.

Originally shared by ted kelly

I grew up in south Florida where the only things that seem to change colors with the seasons were the cars license tags. And we didn't have "pumpkin spiced" every darned thing way back when either.

WPP2016 - Week 42 - Autumn or Spring

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell

#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-42-Autumn-or-Spring

I grew up in south Florida where the only things that seem to change colors with the seasons were the cars license tags. And we didn't have "pumpkin spiced" every darned thing way back when either.

I grew up in south Florida where the only things that seem to change colors with the seasons were the cars license tags. And we didn't have "pumpkin spiced" every darned thing way back when either.

WPP2016 - Week 42 - Autumn or Spring

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell

#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-42-Autumn-or-Spring

#wordlessonwednesday

#wordlessonwednesday

Elizabeth Childs asked me if I had any thoughts about cameras with fast shutter speeds. She wants to take some pictures of her cats and a kitten. Now I'd say the cats aren't much of a problem. They're always either sleeping or taking a nap to get ready for sleeping so...

Elizabeth Childs asked me if I had any thoughts about cameras with fast shutter speeds. She wants to take some pictures of her cats and a kitten. Now I'd say the cats aren't much of a problem. They're always either sleeping or taking a nap to get ready for sleeping so...

Kittens, on the other hand can be challenging. A fast lens is good but even more so, a fast auto-focus is needed. Perhaps most important is having that camera handy to catch the little imps whenever and wherever they hit max-cuteness.

So with that in mind and now idea what price range she was considering, I took a quick peek at what's out there. I found this little gem via a Cnet article listed for (much) lower than $100.

It has a bigger than average sensor - and a pretty fast lens. It's small enough to fit in a pocket. It has lots of "scene" modes and shoots PASM (more control) as well as RAW. It will take an SD card and has some built in memory too. From personal experience, I can attest to how that one feature can save the day sometimes. It even has built in wi-fi, though only for transfer, not control. I'd think about getting one myself if it only had a viewfinder.

I would love to hear from anyone who has one, or even an opinion of it. A better/different suggestion would be cool too (hint hint). I provided a link from my preferred "review" site instead of the Cnet link. I like to use the same review source whenever I can when looking at different products. This one seems fair and doesn't hold back on negative comments. I've used them for a few years (and a few cameras) now.

So anyway~ if you made it this far ~ thanks in advance for your comments and suggestions. Let's get Elizabeth fixed up ASAP. We wouldn't want the internet to run out of cat pictures.
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/fujifilm_xq2_review/

What say we do a scary 1/2 theme for the rest of this month ?

What say we do a scary 1/2 theme for the rest of this month ?

Happy #circleshapesmonday everybody !

Happy #circleshapesmonday  everybody !
Circle Shapes Monday

#rustysunday can be a real "harrowing' experience, if you ask me. I hope this post might cause a "spike' in interest for RustySunday

#rustysunday  can be a real "harrowing' experience, if you ask me. I hope this post might cause a "spike' in interest for RustySunday 
Thanks to the http://www.montereytn.com/DepotMuseum.html
and Gary Posner

You don't have to answer this question if you don't want to.

You don't have to answer this question if you don't want to.
Would this cause you to reconsider your support ?

I've been following this case for years. Aside from the Snopes article
(who I generally consider to be truthful and unbiased)
I absolutely believe her claims to be true. It happened near my home town and working class people that I trusted claimed that they had good reason to believe her.
(sent as a PM so you can choose to speak freely if you want to)
http://www.snopes.com/2016/06/23/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit/

If you are voting against The Donald then you probably think that the "deplorables" are, well - deplorable.

If you are voting against The Donald then you probably think that the "deplorables" are, well - deplorable.
I'm not going to try to convince you that you (and sometimes I) are wrong about that. You really should read this though. It's long but surprisingly good and I would say, very important.
BTW - if you keep reading you might find out something surprising about your own taste in superheros and find some common ground with the Trump supporters. And in times like these, common ground is a very good thing.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-trumps-rise-that-no-one-talks-about/?wa_user1=2&wa_user2=Weird+World&wa_user3=blog&wa_user4=feature_module

"You can't handle the truth" -Col. Nathan R Jessup

"You can't handle the truth" -Col. Nathan R Jessup
Or, maybe you can ?

This place used to be pretty busy. It's sort of quiet these days.
So if you're ready to get out of the echo chamber - join up now and get (and give) some honest commenting and criticism. Because, when all is said and done, when you push that post button, one truth becomes obvious:
“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.”
— Diane Arbus

I shot this for a weekly project community. The theme was "Shadows" and with Halloween coming up I wanted the "dead" king to be missing his shadow. I posted it with the title Checkmate to emphasize the obvious.

I shot this for a weekly project community. The theme was "Shadows" and with Halloween coming up I wanted the "dead" king to be missing his shadow. I posted it with the title Checkmate to emphasize the obvious.

I shot this once with the king and again without him (and his shadow) then used the GIMP to paste him onto the image without the shadow. I blurred around the base of the king just a little (5px wide or so) and converted to b&w.

Any suggestions ?
Lighting, composition, lens, dof etc.

I took some tasty shadow shots this week but mostly by accident. I wanted one in particular but the sun just wouldn't cooperate. So with back ups in the can I decided to make my own darned shadows.

I took some tasty shadow shots this week but mostly by accident. I wanted one in particular but the sun just wouldn't cooperate. So with back ups in the can I decided to make my own darned shadows.
I started with the idea of a shadow that wasn't there. I grabbed a pad and sketched out a couple of different scenes. I've shot this chess set a few times before without much luck but this time I planned it out a little better.

I moved the lights and camera a few times and took a few dozen test shots from different heights and with different lenses and apertures and such. The light, tripod and chess set all came from Goodwill and each cost five bucks. The drop cloth was another three from the discount bin at Lowes.

The light bulb is a 150w daylight temp. also from Lowes. The IR Remote came via Ebay as did the spare battery for about eight bucks each. Of course my battery died after about six shots. Don't they always ?
Note the viewfinder light blocker thingie. This was the first time I ever used it. My last two shots were an experiment to see if it made a difference. I had switched back into auto mode and while either shot was usable I could see a difference. The extra light bouncing around made the picture come out darker and with a reddish hue.

Anywho- I haven't looked at many of this weeks pictures. I'll be doing that shortly. I can hardly wait to see what you guys did.

The Shadow Knows...

The Shadow Knows...

Originally shared by ted kelly

Checkmate
WPP2016 - Week 41 - Shadows

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell

#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-41-Shadows

Checkmate

Checkmate
WPP2016 - Week 41 - Shadows

+Ken Fowkes, Alen Ianni , Tim Kennedy , Robyn King , Rob Masters , Bernhard Rembold , Byron Sheldrick , Francesco Scaglioni , Alicia Smith , Grandma Snyder , Navin Upendran and Mary Wardell

#WPP2016
#WPP2016-Wk-41-Shadows

#wordlessonwednesday

#wordlessonwednesday

I've been thinking some, umm, let's just call them unkind thoughts lately about some of my peeps. http://screamintothevoid.com/ helps a little...

I've been thinking some, umm, let's just call them unkind thoughts lately about some of my peeps. http://screamintothevoid.com/ helps a little...
BTW ~ you're welcome.

You've Got Mail on this #circleshapesmonday Circle Shapes Monday

You've Got Mail on this #circleshapesmonday  Circle Shapes Monday

I fired up SketchGuru this morning and played around for a while. The original shot was a good choice I think. It was way too long, in fading light and hand held. It almost had to get better with a little push.

I fired up SketchGuru this morning and played around for a while. The original shot was a good choice I think. It was way too long, in fading light and hand held. It almost had to get better with a little push.