DIY IR FILTER

Infrared filters make things look bodacious! With very little work I just balanced the color a little and got rid of most of the film emulsion cast. I get this… my back yard. View it full, go ahead, and click it. It's a little grainy but I like it. Thanks for your help with the filter Jim!

Go fly a kite.

Stephen flew a kite at Heather and Jim's the on Saturday and as he was sprinting down the sidewalk his foot hit a little hole in the concrete and he flew through the air and slid a bit... I was at his side in a breath, swooped him up in my arms and went inside to tend to his wounds. The was trying to be strong as he is oft to do, and as I wiped the dirt from his knees and elbows his lower lip started quivering, and the tears started flowing and I put a band aid on the worst of it, took him to the living room, and sat down.

I asked Stephen "Falling down is kind of scary, is there anything that I can do to help you feel better?" He thought about it momentarily and sheepishly said, "Can i go outside and fly the kite?"

My initial reaction surprised me in hindsight; I immediately said "No buddy." with a chuckle almost.

Then I looked at him reconsidering. "Would going outside and flying the kite make you feel better?" His head shakes to the affirmative.

"GO! Buddy just be careful and have fun."

I quickly accepted when denying the request to go and play again, I had made a mistake, realized it, and corrected it. I want the children to know that just because you get hurt, just because there are mistakes made, to never give up, especially if it is something worth doing!

Ten Minutes At Midnight

Please click on the image to view the full sized picture.
This is a 572.3 second exposure at f2.4 that I took last night at midnight... couldn't sleep.
The new tripod is incredible, I am going to go out to the country and try doing a few really long exposures.
I need to sell some photos, I think I'll be making another blog with pictures for sale.

Growing Up.

I really like capturing my own emotions. I just finished cleaning my house for the first time in about nine months, and felt really good. The candle on the window sill defogging the single paned glass, the steam from doing dishes. I felt like I accomplished something good, something pure, to benefit my well being.

Click on 'em.

This is a vase that sits on my kitchen window, it has a vine that is growing quite well and when it grows up it wants to be an astronaut.

Through the Stall Door

This is Stephen’s eye looking through the broken latch on stall number one at Value Village in Salem. More on our findings later. You have to see this frilly blue dress shirt meant for a tuxedo jacket.

The wonder and the majesty of youth are astounding to me. The way my children look at things, simple things. It reminds me of all the things, little things that I have forgotten about since childhood. I highly recommend that the next time you go to the store you get on your knees in the toy section, look up. Imagine for a moment that you have never been above 60 inches tall. Wonder what sort of adventures you could have, if you could just get inside the shiny, form fitted plastic that envelops all the potential play. And while you are there, on your knees, not feeling silly, not self conscious, think about what it might mean to play with that toy, to show your parents what it can do. To play with Mom and/or Dad, even if for a moment.

Now, next time you want to do something else, or buy something you don't need, remember that the time that you can spend with loved ones is magical, it's a gift that you can choose to accept, you can share it, you can horde it, you can ignore it, but every moment, every second that you choose to not accept that gift will never be given again. Ever.