Family Time

Just back from a week with family. 64 people. Ages from 3 to 80.

Catch up with everyone, revisit old hang-outs, recharge the batteries. Every two years. Nothing like it.

Below is my nephew enjoying a cold one on the beach. Dusk. Distant cumulonimbus catching the last of the sun's warm light. Contentment.

Pretty much says it all.

Good to be back. Big hugs to everyone!

Looking Forward To It.

Woke this morning to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. A fair amount of  ice from yesterday's snow melt to contend with. Temps made it to 35 or so in the afternoon. More melt. More ice. Tomorrow... slight chance of snow and freezing rain. Friday brings a greater chance of significant snow storm. 

*sigh*

Spring's just around the corner, isn't it? 

Gone Fishin'.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau

There will be days when the fishing is better than one's most optimistic forecast, others when it is far worse. Either is a gain over just staying home. ~Roderick Haig-Brown, Fisherman's Spring

Nature Boy.

When I'm photographing subjects I like to get them in varied situations. Different settings.

This is Chris. A true outdoorsman!

Here he's watching a group of pelicans doing a fly-by as he continues to catch nothing.

In this shot he's just kinda hanging out showing off his pasty-white muscular body. To be fair, he does tan rather nicely girls!

In this shot... well, hey, Nature calls!

In the end, keep your camera at the ready. Never know what your subject will do!

Cheers.

Sunset

I believe it was Galen Rowell who said he photographed sunsets at every opportunity. There's one every day so why not? Same "sustained thermonuclear fire" as ever. (Here's the actual quote: "You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day and you only get so many days on the planet. A good photographer does the math and doesn't waste either." ) As the golden orb --Cold Comfort Farm, anyone? Anyone?--OK well, as it gets closer to the horizon the light working its way through the thicker atmosphere just can't be beat. People travel all over the world looking for the best sunset experience. A blanket and a bottle of wine in the Marin Headlands; a rustic cabin on a lagoon in the San Juan Islands; the drunken stumble of a freak show at Mallory Square in Key West. All worthy sunset viewing spots. However, next time you find yourself in front of a spectacular sunset (or sunrise for that matter), turn around. Something or someone behind you is being bathed in wonderful photographic light! I noticed this over the weekend in Blue Ridge Summit. And as I am lucky enough to have tolerant and willing subjects all around me, I had no choice but to take advantage. Thanks Matt, Jodi and Chris. You look great!