DragonFly Sunset

It is a rare thing in our house, a date night for their mom and I..

We had a sitter over to watch the kids and enjoyed a quiet dinner and a sunset.   The Dragonflies were everywhere, in the sky making for a odd aerial show while we watched the sun fall behind this tree.

Etiquette says bringing a camera along on a date is probably uncool.  A fair use for the Lumia 1020, anyway...

Tickets, Please

I guess we  all see the fair in different ways.    ;)

The Guardian of the Four Pillars

Goodbye Summer

The Reflecting Pool at the Edge of Summer

Here we are! (The End of Summer is just around the corner - the Autumn Equinox.)     I've been going back looking through my photo catalogs from the summer and spring.  I'm happy with the results but know I could have been more diverse in locale, or even more original.   I think software projects stole some of the photography creativity juices :)  

Something I plan to remedy this fall and winter :)  

To celebrate our 800th Page Like on Facebook, I'm going to try something that's completely new to me.  

A Promotion!  (On facebook) Here goes..

The "Oh Wow, That is 800 more people than I expected" End-of-Summer Promotion
(It is a working title)

A Facebook Fan will receive a Free Print and possibly a Portrait Session!  (more below)

Here's what you do to enter:

Visit my photo gallery of Summer 2013 Shots, here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.646102158755842.1073741830.277534392279289&type=1

Pick a favorite shot and share it on your facebook wall. Then, come by to this post and comment, Something like "Count me in!".  On October 1st, we will add the names into a hat and draw a name. (I'll record the drawing and post it here for posterity.)

The person whose name we draw, wins the print.   

If our Facebook page breaks the "1,000" likes barrier, the winner will also receive a Portrait Session 

Limitations, Details and Legaleze:

The print can be up to a  28x22 Stretched Canvas (white bordered), a gallery wrapped 20x30 or smaller Stretched Canvas or a High Quality Lustre Paper up to 28" x 22" in size.  Frame is not included.  The print can be of any photo in my archives from http://prints.graffitivisuals.com OR any print of your choosing, so long as you have appropriate rights to make said print. 

(eg, Favorite Picture of a Child, Favorite Vacation Photo, Favorite GraffitiVisuals Photo)

We will cover shipping and handling in the continental 48 states.   Some fees may apply for int'l shipments.
(or will Deliver Locally)

If our Facebook page reaches 1,000 likes (it most likely will) before 12:01am October 1, 2013, the winner also receives a Gulf Coast On-Location Portrait Session for up to 4 people. (exceptions by requst, with verbal caveat) I will meet your party at an agreed time at a locale of your choice, so long as it is within the Alabama Gulf Coast Region.   The Eastern Shore, Fairhope, Daphne, Mobile Delta Area, Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.

We will spend an hour or two taking portaits. (Usually 300-400 shots)
I will post-process these portraits within a business week and release to you copies of all photos taken on a usb memory card and online download along with a full release granting you any print rights you may desire.  I will also include 4 8x10 prints on Lustre paper from the session at no cost.

*I will retain a copy of exceptional results for use in my portrait portfolio or training purposes only.

Winner is responsible for travel to and from the Gulf Coast and any desired costumes, makeup and props.  I will provide studio-quality photography lighting, photography services, post processing and image retouch and prints on archival quality materials and inks.  Prizes are not redeemable for cash.   (Portrait sessions needs to be scheduled before the end of 2013.)

The Shadows Crept in but Couldn't Overcome the Rays

Ye Old Bayside Hobbit Shack

You Might Be a Camera Nerd If...

While cutting the grass in your back yard, after work - near sun-down, you stop to snap photos of light rays cutting through the dust cloud kicked up by your mower.  ;)

Across the Bay

Sign Posts

Chain Letters

I've often thought about theming my blog posts as the reminiscent ramblings of an older - crotchetier version of my future self, telling tales to my grandchildren on how life once was.    Doogie Howser's WordPerfect Diary meets How I Met Your Mother plus a camera.

If I were doing that theme, today would be the day when I would tell them about Chain Letters.    

"You see, kids..  back in my day, we didn't have tweets and Facebook status updates.  

The only Spam we were knew about, we ate for lunch with a can of Pringles and a Big Red.  We had these annoying things called Chain Letters.   

Out of nowhere, you see -- this letter would appear addressed to you but without a return address.    It would often be handwritten (we used pens back in those days) and would promise that if we were to distribute the message of the chain letter to 5 or 10 other people, then we would be granted a windfall of riches, avoid some calamity or other such nonsense..."

But, today… the chain letter comes in the form of a Facebook status, "Share this on your timeline if you agree. / If you don't I'll unfriend you / know you don't really care about me.   Signed:  Your third cousin-in-law's dog walker, twice removed, in Albania."

(sigh)   At least when I was a kid, it cost the price of a stamp to be stupid.   Now, it's free.

With Love on Labor Day,

Crotchety Bill

 :)

The Bridges of Baldwin County

 

Many Minnies

Smooth, Yet Rocky

.. they rode off into the sunset...

I've still been following the search efforts to find The Nina and her crew, who went missing around the Tasmin Sea, back in June.

Officials have long since called off search and rescue efforts, yet family members and supporters continue to commission private search flights, coordinated with a crowdsourced satllite imagery analysis effort powered by Tomnod. (http://tomnod.com/nod/challenge/ninarescue2)

It is a real-life drama unfolding and I very much feel for the families of the crew as they look for answers regarding their missing loved ones.  

Following the comments on this and other  sites you can see the different sides of humanity at play.   In one corner, the desperate family members keeping faith against all odds that the crew could still be rescued.

In another corner well-meaning and good spirited supporters aiding the efforts through donations and other efforts.   

In another corner, occasional, inevitable naysayers who cloud their efforts with a cynical blend of gloomy realism.  

..

However it turns out, I think it is a glimpse that people can come together in selfless ways to be decent.   If the big-hollywood style near-apocalypse were to strike tomorrow, maybe we'd all be alright.

.. or maybe we wouldn't :|

You can follow the family and supporter efforts at:  https://www.facebook.com/ninarescue?ref=br_tf

... of shadows, glass and breeze

I've been to this spot a few times, this time I came with a photographer friend.  There is this narrow(ish) bridge on Hwy 225 not far at all from my house, as you head north towards Saluda Hill Cemetery and the new Veteran's Cemetery in Spanish Fort.  

We perched up on the guard rail and snapped a few shots as the colors started to come in.

Thankfully, we were not squished by cars during our real-life frogger reenactment.

A Room With a View

The clever people on the internet could easily come up with a funny meme about this property.     I can hear them now, "A-LABAMA!"   .

And... yes.. this picture is from Alabama.    But, before you make wisecracks about the split-level home from The Board Game LIFE or about Duck Dynasty, let me explain to you why this man is a genius.

Sitting at the foot of a bridge on a less-crowded Alabama Highway is this small boat launch and bait shop.    The owner (and I presume, son) occupy this piece of land and if you can get the older man to speak with you he'll tell you:  "Yep, I think I have me a piece of God's country here."

and he's right.

The sunrises peak through the trees and you get a good sense of how the sun moves through the seasons.    In the evenings, the sun sets across the Delta near the Mobile, Alabama skyline.    If you're sitting on this porch, you have only to look across a picturesque bridge up the inlet into the Delta..    The only thing blocking his view is his own pontoon boat, which he uses to explore these waters that he has lived at nearly all of his life.

Sometimes, the sun will set between the buildings in the far distance of the Mobile, Alabama skyline.   Other times it cuts through the trees and casts orangey rays across the bridge onto near-perfect reflections in the water, here.

So, some folks might look at this and say "Yep, that's Alabama for you."

I look at it say, "This man is a genius."  :)

Coastal Towns

There's nothing like hanging around a Coastal Town after dark... The blues come and and subtle details start to fade away.  Music, voices, the lapping of waves.    Not a state of affairs..   

Nokia, Meet Meade

 Nokia, Meet Meade

Last week I walked into an At&t store and asked, 

"Can you sell me a Nukia 1020 without a contract?"
"Sure, what's your number?"
"I'm a verizon customer, I don't want service - just the device."

.. They looked at each other in a puzzled way, made some calls and eventually.. sold me the phone..

The real reason was for a development project I'm on (porting an Android App to Windows Phone)..   

The secondary reason in my mind was this...   A 41 megapixel sensor paired with my telescope.   Lightweight and easy to attach to an eyepiece. 

My first attempt here, isn't perfect but the phone did well and the experience was enjoyable.  I'll just get better from here. Can't wait to try for some planets as the cool nights kick in..

One of those Dreary Days..

Because weather is the polite and safe topic with which to fill silence.

Nearly every August on the Gulf Coast it is nearly guaranteed that someone will mention to you, "Crazy, All this rain, right?? They are saying it is going to be a record."

With statisticians maintaining such records it isn't hard to find one.    "Today..  our 2-hour rainfall averages are the highest on record for this date, year over year."  

Huh?

Anyway... it's a dreary, rainy day here on the Gulf Coast, a good day to sit inside and look through some images.  Here's one I found that seemed like it had some qualities worth sharing.

...

Er, umm..How about that weather?

:)