Winter Challenge

Well, everyone had two full months to think about, plan and work on their December/January photos with the 'winter' theme. So much of our outdoor landscape turns to a dismally dull display of dead leaves, naked branches and yellow-brown grasses, that we might miss those opportunities to capture the unique shapes, colors and weather that are part of winter's beauty.




Linda didn't have to brave the outdoors weather to find something to remind us of winter. Her 'candle and tree' photo emphasizes the warmth of home and the celebration of Christmas using a powerful minimalist style of photography.








Girl, I hope you live close to the nearest fire station!







Old Davy's backyard sunset shot is nothing nothing to brag about compositionally. But the cloud color was amazing (in real life - hard to translate it perfectly to the screen). Wish I had been out on Woodbridge Road taking sandhill crane silhouette at the time, but that wasn't going to happen. I used manual exposure and underexposed so the sky colors weren't blown out.


These spent cattails are still standing after 7 months after their prime at the Cosumnes River Wildlife Preserve, just north of us. Most of the others I saw had fallen over. I was shooting for a balanced composition here, using the oak reflection as added interest. I strengthened the contrast and blacks in post-processing and bumped up the red and yellow to give it an old Kodachrome look and feel.





Don's morning light photos highlighted dripping ice on a few plants. I'm pretty sure Don used his 60mm Nikkor macro lens that does a superb job when getting really close up and personal. The star-like patterns of the reflected sunlight are caused when the aperture is very small.














This thirsty orange-crowned warbler was caught while drinking at Ginnie's fountain. She has the luxury of being able to take pictures like this from inside her house, which is a plus when it's sometimes 18 degrees in Paso Robles!







And here's picture of a recent Paso Robles sunset in all its glory. Wow!








Thanks again to everyone who sent in their winter photos. Remember, I'm only posting two of those you sent, so please forgive me if you don't see your favorite of the bunch. It's hard to choose from all those sent to me.

Next month's theme - that's February - will be "Doors and Windows." Thanks to Ginnie for suggesting it. I don't think anyone will be at a loss for subjects on this one. Again: Your pictures must be taken in February. Black and white or color is okay. Post-processing to the max (artsy) is okay. People and animals in the shot are okay, as long as the theme is apparent. Keep the .jpg file under 400kb if possible.

Have a good time and be creative.

Color Blind

I grew up in a virtually color-blind town in California. Racial slurs weren't part of my vocabulary in school or any other place for that matter. And I didn't hear friends or family using them, either.

One of the black families in our school had six children. Their father was the pastor of the New Light Missionary Baptist Church. All four boys were outstanding students and athletes, each representing their classes as Student Body Presidents.

John Parish, who filled the President's office during our senior year in high school, was elected Governor of Boy's State in Sacramento, then went on to Boy's Nation at the Capitol. This first picture shows a Kiwanis member speaking to the group while in Washington, D.C.. Note the two empty chairs by John. The story goes that John was so discriminated against by two boy members from southern states, they refused to sit by him during one of the meal times. This picture symbolizes that hatret. I still remember John's tears as he related some of the pain he experienced when he got back and addressed one of the classes we were in together. Pretty sad - to go so far away from home as a hero just to be treated like dirt.










I don't have firsthand knowledge of this incident, but it seems plausible after discovering this picture of the two empty chairs. What do you think?

Running From Dog

Our cat Jack has the run of the yards and cul-de-sac and enjoys wandering around his little neighborhood territory. This meandering has its limits, specifically those residential backyards that board their burglar deterrent canines.

But last night's calm ended when the next door neighbor's dog jumped up on the gate door hard enough to open it. He didn't hesitate to target Jack and chased him over our fence with a crashing thud and clawing scramble that sounded like serious business to us in the house.

Barb ran outside, screaming at the poor mutt of a culprit, chasing him to the street and promptly heading next door to inform the folks of the heinous crime. Liz ran to the backyard and found Jack ready to jump the back fence, cowering in fear.

It was a born again experience for the old boy.

Your Best Shot

Seasonal changes marked October with early rainstorms and shades of fall on the hillsides. The photo challenge was the most painless so far, but may not have been the best choice for stretching your creative muscles to the max. November's assignment: A window light portrait. Don't use a flash, just available light. If you want to fill any shadows, you can use a reflector. You can shoot any number of people (or pets), just make sure that your MAIN light is from a window. And this doesn't have to be a formal portrait: any candid will do, whether in private or public. Color or black and white will work, too. Humorous or serious, whatever.



The first in this series was taken by Cooper Guffey in Paso Robles and submitted by his grandmother, Ginnie. He had Addie pose for him and did a great job in the composition department! Bravo, Cooper. Keep shooting.








Bruce in Oregon found some colorful fare at the pumpkin patch. His grandson, Jacoby, had a great time, but Bruce didn't seem too thrilled. Hey, Bruce, at our age, pumpkins are just big orange squashes that are better off left in the field.



















Don also found a pumpkin patch, but he didn't say which one, and didn't say whether he took anyone with him. Probably on Hwy 46 somewhere, just him and his Harley.























Ginnie says this about her Zinfandels entry: "Our little harvest was on the 23rd. We only got about 1/2 of the usual crop due to spring frost and summer rains which made the vines susceptible to mildew. So now fermentation is underway complete with a horde of fruit flies."







Ginnie's art group has been traveling to different places to paint on Fridays: "Last Friday's subject for the Friday paint-out was Atascadero Lake. Lots of honking and quaking there. Brought back old memories of Marty's duck that was released there." Ginnie, it looks like the leaves are just starting to turn there.

I'm trying to remember Marty's duck, but don't even have a foggy recollection. Most of us have other memories of Atascadero Lake -- good and bad -- and very bad!




Megen's entry is unusually weird looking - for a pumpkin. She says, "The cerebral pumpkin...who says Halloween is a brainless holiday???" Thanks, Meg, for shooting outside the box.



Here's another one of Megen's best pictures of October, even though she didn't formally enter it for the challenge. These expressions are priceless! Thanks.










Yours truly also has a couple of shots to share which you most likely seen already on my website. Our vacation to Paso in early October was a wonderful time -- seeing family, friends and favorite spots around the area. I planned to take sunset pictures at Spooner's Cove weeks before coming down, so that's where Barb and I headed the first night of our trip. The sunset was literally shocking to my senses as the sun disappeared below the horizon and the clouds lit up like cotton candy. This photo doesn't tell the emotional story, but is only a taste of awesome power of visual beauty that only reality can relish. I used a tripod and shot on manual exposure.



After leaving Paso, we drove to Yosemite, hoping to get a 'moonshot' at sunset at the Tunnel View. It was just rising while the sun was setting. God had other plans and it was raining when we drove in. But the pictures taken in the rain and mist gave the trees, mountains and rock faces a sense of rarity that I like more than the proverbial postcard Yosemite Valley photos. And sometimes it's just fun to get out in a drenched meadow, trying to keep your camera and lens dry and grabbing something you'll never see again!

Thanks to everyone who participated this month. I'm looking forward to November's portraits. Remember, the same old rules apply each month. Keep shooting. Keep smiling.

Dave

September Photo Challenge

Thanks to all who submitted photos for September's weird and woefully wacky F.U.N. challenge. My apologies for raising the bar a bit too high for us non-professionals. But we still had FUN, didn't we?

Ginnie's picture was taken in Paso Robles. Its title is "Fix or Repair Daily," which we all know is longhand for Ford, which is seen reflected in the window. Lots of color here.


Bruce trekked around to find a few covered barns to shoot in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. This first one is the Stayton-Jordan footbridge, erected in 1988 to connect people walking from one park to another in Stayton, OR. Placed over the Salem Power Canal, it was destroyed by fire due to faulty Christmas tree lighting, but was rebuilt in 1998. Massive and sturdy now, it looks like it will last another 100 years. I'm titling this picture, "Not For Fords."


This second bridge spans Crabtree Creek. Named the Larwood Bridge, it was built in 1939 and can be seen in Scio, OR. I like the way the shade on the bridge compliments/contrasts with the light rocks in the foreground, giving a nice balance to the shot. Title: "1939 Undercover Freeway"




Unfortunately, Kennedy Gold Mine in Jackson, CA isn't a F.U.N. kind of place by any stretch. The Forty-Niners hated the low wages (the clock started AFTER you were lowered into the mine and ended BEFORE you made your ascent from a mile down). They also hated the unsafe conditions and the fact that you'd lose your hearing after a few years. I found this turkey (?) feather and used it to contrast the "Freedom of Flight and (mis)Fortunes of Niners."

Once an all-moving collection of noisy machinery and clanging ore crushers, every piece of equipment is now silent at this mine. More than silent, it has been frozen by water and weather into a rusted and crumbling hulk of steel and wood. The Ichabod of the Sierra, the "glory has departed" to take its place in the history books and memories of old timers who still remember the operation back in the '40's. I've given this photo the title: "Nuts and Bolts"


Don was out chasing the wind a few weeks ago and heard a strange sound behind a hill on Hwy 46 West. The next thing he knew, a hot air balloon slowly lifted above the vineyards, newlyweds in tow (or basket). Thankfully, he had his trusty Nikon D300 with him and zoomed along behind the tracking vehicle. He was able to get this "down under" shot with the moon perfectly placed beside it. Great shot, Don! You won't get that one again! Both of his balloon shots bear the title: "Hot Air Balloon Chasing on an FXDL from the Highway Forty-six Farm Stand."


We're going to make October a lot easier on our "challenge" sensitivities by asking for Your Best Shot. So you can really submit anything you like. Just make sure it was taken in October. All previous rules apply.

• Must be taken by October 31.
• Manipulation is accepted.
• Any camera can be used.
• Creativity counts
• You can submit as many shots as you want, but only two of my choice will be posted.

Thanks and happy shooting!

Kick in the Pants

Barb and I have been looking for this ad for years and finally found it tonight on Google Books website. In early 1966, she, Margo Maggiani and Mary Lou Hollywood were chosen to model for a MerCruiser ad photo shoot at Lake Nacimiento.
The ad was published in Popular Mechanics March 1966 special issue on boating. Barb is driving the boat, Margo is sitting by her and Mary Lou is in the back seat.
They didn't get paid in cash, but could choose color-coordinated outfits from Paso Robles Mercantile.
One exciting tidbit: Barb almost wrecked the boat after they told her to drive fast and close to the huge boat they were shooting from. She came a little too close and almost hit it. Barb's "Please don't tell the owner that I almost wrecked his boat" was answered by, "I don't have to: he's standing right here!"

Vintage Vision

I've recently joined Facebook's "You Know You Grew Up In Paso Robles When . . . " where folks post vintage pictures of local people and places. It's great looking at all of those old memories and see familiar names and places before 'civilization' took its toll.

I thought it would be fun to find a Photoshop Elements plug-in that would imitate a vintage look and found a set of free plug-ins called Filter Forge Freepack 2 – Photo Effects. There are more than enough choices and settings to transform your picture into an instantly aged work of art. Check it out.